Ortho-K Contact Lenses
What Is Ortho-K?
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) uses custom-fitted rigid gas-permeable lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea. The lenses gently mold the cornea during sleep, adjusting how light enters the eye and allowing clear vision throughout the day.
In the morning, the lenses are removed, cleaned with a recommended solution to eliminate debris, and stored in a case with conditioning solution to keep them disinfected and hydrated. Prior to using them again at night, the lenses are rinsed and inserted before sleep.
Ortho-K provides unassisted vision during the day for work, school, or sports. Consistent nightly wear and regular optometrist visits are needed to maintain effectiveness and monitor eye health. This predictable routine ensures safe and effective eyesight correction.
What Are the Benefits of Ortho-K?
Effective Myopia Control
(Ortho-K) has been proven as an effective myopia control solution for young children and teenagers. Clinical studies show that wearing Ortho-K lenses overnight can significantly slow myopia progression by reshaping the cornea and reducing the stimulus for eyeball axial elongation. This makes it an ideal solution for young patients during critical growth years, when myopia tends to progress most rapidly.
An added advantage for parents is the ability to directly supervise the nightly routine. As Ortho-K lenses are inserted before sleep, parents can ensure their child follows proper hygiene and handling practices, fostering compliance with the treatment plan. This oversight reduces the risk of improper lens use or missed wear, maximizing the effectiveness of the myopia control strategy.
Safe and Reversible
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is a safe, non-surgical, and fully reversible treatment option for vision correction. Unlike LASIK, which permanently reshapes the cornea through surgery, orthokeratology temporarily molds the cornea, allowing the eye to return to its natural state within a few nights of discontinuing lens use.
This reversibility makes Ortho-K particularly appealing to adults who need refractive correction but are hesitant about undergoing LASIK surgery. While LASIK boasts a high success rate, it is a surgical procedure with inherent risks, such as dry eyes, glare, or potential complications during healing. Ortho-K offers an effective alternative without the long-term commitment or risks associated with surgery.
Total Eyewear Freedom
Wearers enjoy complete freedom from daytime eyewear, offering clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. This eliminates concerns about losing or damaging glasses, or the discomfort of contact lenses falling out during physical activities.
For women, Ortho-K removes the challenge of applying makeup while wearing daytime contacts, making daily routines simpler and stress-free.
Ortho-K is also an excellent option for individuals who have struggled with daytime contact lenses, particularly those with dry eye syndrome. Since the lenses are only worn at night, they bypass the challenges of extended daytime wear, such as dryness or irritation caused by prolonged lens use.
Ideal for Water Activities
Overnight vision correction is an excellent solution for active individuals who spend significant time in the water. Unlike daytime contact lenses, which pose a risk of serious eye infections if exposed to waterborne parasites such as Acanthamoeba, Ortho-K lenses are worn only at night.
Swimming or engaging in water sports with daytime contact lenses is strongly discouraged due to the potential for parasites to become lodged between the lens and the eye, leading to severe infections that can damage vision. Ortho-K removes this concern entirely, as the lenses are not used during water activities.
