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ORTHOKERATOLOGY

Ortho-k gently reshapes the cornea while you sleep.
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Healthy vision occurs when light enters your eye, hits the retina, and then tells the brain what you see. As these light rays touch your retina, they refract (bend), sending nerve signals to your brain, which translates the things you see into images so that you can understand what you’re looking at.

Should your cornea have any kind of irregular shape, it can cause the light that enters your eye to be refracted incorrectly. When this happens, the brain cannot understand the images, leading to blurry vision. This situation is known as a refractive error.

What is Myopia?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common refractive errors. It affects your ability to see things at a distance, while objects or images that are closer to you remain clear.

Myopia is prevalent in both adults and children and its numbers are rising worldwide. Nearly 11% of the global population has it, and studies predict that by 2050, myopia will affect half of the entire world!

This condition is generally treated with the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses, which correct vision by refracting light properly. It’s worth noting that while these solutions improve your vision, they only work so long as you wear them, and they do not cure the condition itself.

According to FDA trials conducted on both CRT and VST lenses, more than 65% of patients achieved 20/20 visual acuity. An impressive 90% achieved 20/40 vision or better, which is an important achievement since this is the legal requirement for driving without vision correction in most states.

What is Orthokeratology?

Orthokeratology, more widely known as Ortho-k, is another tool in our arsenal of treatment for myopia.

Ortho-k refers to rigid gas permeable contact lenses that gently reshape the cornea while you sleep. In the morning, simply take the lenses out and go about your day. Since the Ortho-k lenses have reshaped your cornea during the previous night, many patients experience improved vision the following day. Some even find that they don’t need to wear glasses or contacts, but can see clearly without them.

To ensure the most effective treatment, Ortho-k lenses must be custom-fitted for each patient. Dr. Susan Keene will take measurements of the size and curvature of your cornea and create a tailor-made set of lenses to fit your eye’s unique shape. They fit perfectly over the cornea and allow air to pass through, so they won’t dry out. This keeps the Ortho-k lenses moist and comfortable.

How Effective is Ortho-k?

Ortho-k lenses gently flatten your cornea, allowing light to enter and refract properly. This ultimately gives you better, clearer vision. Ortho-k has even been shown to slow down the progression of myopia by an average of 50%, an important benefit that prevents the condition from worsening.

There are currently 3 brands of FDA-approved Ortho-k lenses. Euclid Emerald, usually prescribed for myopia control, Paragon Vision Sciences, which produces “Corneal Refractive Therapy” (CRT), and Bausch and Lomb, which manufactures “Vision Shaping Treatment” (VST).

Is Ortho-k Better Than Eye Surgery?

While vision correction surgeries like LASIK can reshape the cornea surgically in myopia patients, these types of procedures are permanent and cannot be reversed. Ortho-k lenses offer the same advantages as LASIK, but with less risk than invasive surgery. That is because you can simply stop wearing them and your cornea will revert back to its previous irregular shape. Unlike other options, Ortho-k is suitable for children.

Adults with myopia may be candidates for eye surgery to correct the refractive error, but children are a different matter. Eye surgery to correct vision is generally not performed on patients younger than 18. This is because children’s vision is unstable during their younger years as their eyes are still developing. Fortunately, kids can benefit from wearing Ortho-k lenses.

Ortho-k FAQs

Who is a candidate for ortho-k?
Orthokeratology is frequently a good option for nearsighted individuals who are too young for LASIK surgery or for some other reason are not good candidates for vision correction surgery. Because it can be discontinued at any time without permanent change to the eye, people of any age can try the procedure, as long as their eyes are healthy.

Ortho-k is particularly appealing for people who participate in sports, or who work in dusty, dirty environments that can make contact lens wear difficult.

How long does ortho-k take?
Though you may see some improvement in your vision after a day or two of overnight ortho-k, it can take several weeks for the full effect to be apparent. During this time, your vision will not be as clear as it was with glasses or contacts, and you are likely to notice some glare and halos around lights. It’s possible you may need a temporary pair of eyeglasses for certain tasks, like driving at night, until your vision is fully corrected by the ortho-k lenses.
Is ortho-k comfortable?
Some people have comfort issues when attempting to wear gas permeable contact lenses during the day. But since ortho-k GP lenses are worn during sleep, comfort and lens awareness are generally not a problem.
Cost of orthokeratology
Ortho-k is a significantly longer process than a regular contact lens fitting. It requires a series of office visits and potentially multiple pairs of lenses. Also, GP lenses used for ortho-k are more costly than most regular contact lenses. Therefore, fees for orthokeratology are higher than fees for regular contact lens fittings.
Can I have LASIK after ortho-k?
Yes, it’s possible to have LASIK surgery after orthokeratology. But because ortho-k lenses reshape your cornea, you must stop wearing the lenses for a period of time (usually several months) so your eyes can return to their original shape and stabilize. Be sure to tell your LASIK surgeon that you’ve worn ortho-k lenses, so they can advise you how long you should wait before having the surgery.

Ortho-k for Children

Kids have a high incidence of myopia, with 1 in 10 American children (9.2%) aged 5 – 17 showing signs of the condition. It is often inherited, so a child can develop nearsightedness if one or both of their parents have it.

When worn consistently, Ortho-k can stop myopia from deteriorating further. This is crucial to maintaining healthy eyes because if left untreated, as children grow older, myopia can eventually lead to more severe eye diseases like glaucoma, early onset cataracts, macular degeneration, or retinal detachment. That’s why the doctor recommends earlier treatment. The sooner we can treat your child’s myopia, the lower the risk of more serious vision problems.

If you or your child are experiencing blurry vision, eyestrain, persistent headaches, or other signs of myopia, contact Envision Eye Care. Our years of expertise and access to the latest technologies can help you achieve better vision today.