Orthokeratology (or Ortho-k)
Ortho-k improves your vision while you sleep!
Wear specially designed contact lens-like retainers while you sleep, remove when you get up, and you can see without glasses or contact lenses!
Sounds too good to be true? It is true! These NON-SURGICAL retainers reshape the front surface of your eye – your cornea.
By wearing Ortho-K retainers 7-8 hours each night, you can see without correction during the day.
Ortho-K Slows The Rate of Worsening Nearsightedness (myopia)!
Research has proven that Ortho-K is effective at slowing progression of myopia (nearsightedness)!
Nearsightedness (where objects in the distance are blurry) is a common problem and the normal solution is to use glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, these lenses are temporary as most children’s prescriptions get worse year to year.
What’s so wonderful about Ortho-K is that it stops or slows this progression of worsening vision and it’s non-surgical.
Is it safe?
Yes. Ortho-k has been FDA approved since 2002. It is also reversible! Think of it like wearing a tight ribbed sock. There are lines on your skin when you remove the sock but they disappear when you discontinue wearing the sock.
The same analogy can be applied to this corneal reshaping therapy – after you stop wearing the lenses at night, the eye slowly goes back to the way it was before starting therapy. If a child were to wear the lenses starting at 10 years old and decided to stop wearing them at 20, his eyes would slowly reshape back how they were when he started at 10. He would have skipped the 10 years of nearsightedness progression and have the vision of his 10 year old self.
As with contact lenses, the same hygiene, care and maintenance must be followed, which are discussed at length during your dispensing visit. Most soft contact lenses are worn 12-14 hours a day but Ortho-K is half of that!
There are no guarantees in health care. Individuals and results will vary, but we’ve seen great results in our office.
Can Anyone Wear Ortho-K?
Dr. Laura recommends corneal reshaping therapy for the following reasons:
- myopia control,
- an alternative to contacts and glasses,
- as well as an alternative to LASIK.
Dr. Laura prescribe this therapy for individuals with myopia, with or without astigmatism. The youngest age Dr. Laura will begin fitting these therapeutic corneal retainers is eight. It can be a great option for children and teens that are active in sports activities or any other extra-curricular activities.
Why Haven’t I Heard of This Before?
Orthokeratology requires post-graduate training, advanced technology and dedication to prescribe. Dr. Laura became educated by the American Academy of Orthokeratology & Myopia Control (AAMOC) and a certified Orthokeratologist in 2010. Dr. Laura has been passionate about this technology ever since.
Interested? A comprehensive vision examination is required prior to beginning Ortho-K therapy. If you have had an eye examination within the past year with another eye doctor who does not offer this service, schedule a FREE consultation to determine if you are a candidate.