Orthokeratology has become an increasingly popular treatment method to reshape the cornea. It offers patients with blurry eyesight a non-surgical option to achieve vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses while awake.

 

Who Is It For?

Ortho-K is an excellent treatment alternative for adults of all ages. The best success appears to be with patients below 40 years old. Ortho-k lenses are especially recommended for people with mild to moderate cases of nearsightedness or myopia. In fact, it’s available to about 85 percent of all myopic prescriptions.

 

Also, over 60 percent of patients aged 17 and below benefit from ortho-k lenses. These lenses are great for children between eight and 12 years old who have experienced a sharp increase in nearsightedness. It’s also an excellent option for those who have a family history of high or progressive cases of nearsightedness. Research shows that ortho-k lenses can also treat other refractive errors. These include farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia.

 

Many athletes who can’t wear eyeglasses or contacts during activities opt for ortho-k. It’s ideal for people with active lifestyles since it gets rid of the need for prescription eyewear. People who work in industrial jobs can also benefit from ortho-k. The same goes for those who work in dusty environments and who are in constant contact with water. People who are allergic to the materials used in standard contact lenses find ortho-k a viable alternative. It’s also an option among patients who have a dry eye disease that gets worse from wearing contacts. Even patients who aren’t qualified for or afraid of refractive surgery may also be a good candidate for ortho-k lenses.

 

Getting Your Ortho-K Lenses

Your eye doctor must perform a comprehensive eye examination before they can prescribe ortho-k lenses. This is to determine if your eye condition would be best controlled or managed by these specially designed lenses. Your eye doctor will look into your ocular structures and map the shape of your cornea. This will help them identify your current visual acuity and establish what type and how severe your refractive error is.

 

Your eye doctor will then fit ortho-k lenses on your eyes. This way, they can adequately rest the lenses on your cornea according to its curvature, height, and diameter. Once you’re fitted, your eye doctor will order them so you can pick them up in a few days or so.

 

Taking care of your new ortho-k lenses is almost the same as when using soft contacts. You hold your lids open and gently place the lens on the surface of your eye. The only difference is that you’ll have to use lubricating drops before putting in your lenses.


Learn more about Ortho-k lenses, contact  Inclima Eye Care in West Haven, Connecticut, at (203) 694-0418  to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.