Orthokeratology – Everything You Need to Know About Ortho K Lenses!

Ever wondered what it would be like to have crisp, clear vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses? If that’s you, but the thought of surgery leaves you cold, then Ortho K (Orthokeratology) could be the treatment for you. Here, we give you our quick overview of everything you need to know about Ortho K!

What is Orthokeratology?

Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K is an innovative, non-surgical eye treatment which involves wearing specially design, rigid, gas permeable contact lenses overnight whilst you sleep.  These overnight contact lenses gently reshape your cornea while you sleep and therefore correct your vision, meaning that glasses or contact lenses don’t need to be worn during the day.

This can be great news for people who play a lot of sports, as they no longer need to worry about finding prescription sports specific eyewear. Even people who struggle with wearing contacts during the day could benefit from this.

Will It Work For Me?

Ortho-K will not correct all types of vision – it’s primarily designed to correct lower levels of myopia (short-sightedness). New lens designs are available which can correct higher prescription myopia, low to moderate astigmatism and even low levels of hyperopia (long sightedness).

Your optician will be able to advise you if your prescription is suitable for Ortho-K. Remember, Orthokeratology is a temporary solution, unlike eye surgery, so the lenses need to be worn every night or every other night to keep reshaping your eyes. If you do stop wearing the lenses, your eyes will simply return to their original shape and prescription.

What Does Ortho K Involve?

Your first visit will involve a thorough examination of your eyes, including topographic maps to show the shape of your corneas.  Calculations can then be done to assess what type of lenses you require. You will then be fitted with some lenses to trial and taught how to insert and remove them yourself. Following this, you would need to have regular follow-up visits over the next six months to review the fit of your lenses and ensure they are working correctly.

Most patients find that their vision is completely corrected in just a few weeks, when it reaches the optimum level, often achieving 20:20 or 20:40 vision.  Children can be fitted with Ortho-K lenses, but we always recommend that they are closely supervised in their usage and handling of the lenses.

As with all contact lenses, there is a risk of infection, so you will be given advice on handling and storage of the lenses, to make sure that you are able to keep them in perfect condition to match your perfect eyesight!

What Next?

If you think Ortho-K might be the solution for you, then contact us to make an appointment with one of our experts. They will be more than happy to discuss your current eye conditions and offer you a bespoke service to suit your individual needs and lifestyle. Book an appointment here, or contact us today on: 01384 883786 (Inverkeithing), 01382 797913 (Cowdenbeath),  01593 200263 (Burntisland), 01383 226041 (Dunfermline).