Orthokeratology
(Ortho-K)

How It Works?

The eye surface or cornea, is the outermost transparent layer of the eye and functions as a light focusing mechanism for the eye to achieve clear vision. In the case of shortsightedness, it’s either the cornea possesses a steep curvature or the eye ball had elongated excessively, hence causing light to falsely focus in the eye. With Orthokeratology (Ortho-K), the eye surface is gently reshaped by a specialized contact lens while you are asleep. The eye surface is then reshaped to a desired curvature that is clinically deemed suitable to correct the shortsightedness in the eye. After the eye surface is reshaped, you will be able to see clearly with your natural vision! Even after you remove the specialized contact lens when you wake up the next day! However, Ortho-K’s effect on reshaping the eye surface and correcting power is temporary. The effect of the reshaped eye surface and corrected vision works best during day time of the waking hours, and might be slightly affected in the end of the day. The wearer will need to wear the specialized contact lens continuously on a prescribed schedule to maintain the reshaped eye surface and corrected vision.

Who is a Good Candidate For Ortho-K Lenses?

Ortho-K lenses work well for many different types of people, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Here are some people who can benefit from Ortho-K:

• Children and teens with myopia: Ortho-K is one of the best options for young people whose vision is still changing. Laser surgery is not recommended until vision has stabilized, so Ortho-K offers a safe, effective way for children to see clearly and also helps slow down how quickly their near vision deteriorates.
• Active people and sports enthusiasts: If you play sports, go swimming, or live an active lifestyle, Ortho-K makes life much easier. You get perfect, clear vision all day long without the risk of your glasses breaking or your contact lenses falling out during sports.
• People who work in dusty or challenging environments: Wearing regular contact lenses in dirty or dusty workplaces can be uncomfortable and dangerous. With Ortho-K, your lenses stay on at night and come off in the morning, so your eyes are comfortable all day long.
• People who are not suitable for LASIK: Some people are not good candidates for laser eye surgery because of their corneal shape or prescription. Ortho-K offers these individuals a non-surgical way to achieve clear vision during the day without glasses.

For best results, the ideal candidate has healthy eyes and a myopia prescription of up to about -4.50D, although higher prescriptions can still be considered. Optica recommends booking an optometrist consultation so your optometrist can personally evaluate your eyes and tell you if Ortho-K is right for you.

How Does The Ortho-K Lens Fitting Process Work at an Optica Optometrist?

Getting fitted for Ortho-K lenses is a meticulous and personalized process. Optica optometrists take a step-by-step approach to ensure your lenses fit properly and your eyes respond well. A typical journey looks like this:

• Eye exam: Your optometrist measures your eye prescription and uses a special tool called a corneal topographer to map the exact shape of your cornea. This map helps determine the best Ortho-K lenses for your eye.
• Lens collection: Once your lenses are ready, you come in to pick them up. Your optometrist teaches you how to put in your lenses, take them out, and clean them properly.
• After your first night: You visit an Optica optometrist the morning after wearing them. This initial check helps ensure that the lens is seated properly and that your eye is responding well.
• One week later: By this visit, the full reshaping effect is usually visible. Your optometrist checks your vision and the shape of your cornea to see if any minor adjustments are needed.

After these initial visits, your follow-up appointments will be spaced out over time. Once your lenses are fully functioning, regular check-ups help keep your eyes healthy and your vision sharp for the long term.

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