Do you often wish you could see clearly without glasses or contacts? You may have considered corrective eye surgery but are apprehensive about going under the knife. If so, orthokeratology, often called ortho-k, is an eye care option worth exploring. It’s a non-surgical process that can reshape your cornea while you sleep, allowing you to enjoy clear vision during the day.
In this post, eye experts of Six One Six Vision Center, will explore the essential insights of orthokeratology and the art of corneal reshaping.
What Is Ortho-K?
Ortho-K is a non-surgical procedure that involves the use of specialized contact lenses. These lenses are custom-made for each individual and worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. They are often referred to as “retainers for your eyes.” Ortho-K aims to reshape the cornea so that light entering the eye can accurately focus on the retina, which results in clear vision.
How Does Ortho-K Work?
Ortho-k uses designed and fitted rigid gas-permeable contact lenses to correct vision by reshaping the cornea. You simply put the lenses in at bedtime, and while you sleep, these lenses apply a controlled shape change to the eye’s front surface. The effect is temporary—generally enough to get you through a day or two and then the process must be repeated.
Who Can Benefit From Ortho-K?
Ortho-K is typically used to:
- Correct Refractive Errors – It’s often used for patients suffering from myopia or astigmatism. However, it may also correct hyperopia to some extent.
- Slow Progression of Myopia in Children – Studies have shown that ortho-k can slow myopia progression in children, which can be beneficial in preventing high myopia later in life.
The Procedure
The process starts with an initial eye exam, where your optometrist or ophthalmologist will determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for ortho-k. They will use a corneal topographer to create a detailed map of your cornea’s shape, if suitable.
Using this map, they will generate a unique design for a pair of ortho-k lenses for your eyes. The fitting process may require several visits over a few weeks to fine-tune the treatment for the best vision correction.
Benefits
Ortho-k has several notable benefits but also brings certain risks. On the plus side, it is non-surgical and reversible, unlike procedures like LASIK. This modality allows patients to adapt their treatment as necessary. Additionally, ortho-k lenses, worn at night, eliminate the daytime need for glasses or contacts. Plus, the treatment can slow down the progression of myopia in children, handling shortsightedness in its early stages to prevent its escalation.
Risks
However, there are risks and limitations. The eye-reshaping effect of ortho-k is temporary and the lenses need to be worn regularly to maintain clear vision. Plus, hygiene is crucial to preventing eye infections, which are synonymous with traditional contact lens risks. Finally, ortho-k may not effectively handle severe refractive errors, making it essential to consult a specialist to determine the suitability of ortho-k for each case.
Choose Us for All Your Eye Care Needs
If you’re considering this revolutionary approach to vision correction, call or text us at Six One Six Vision Center in Eagle, ID, at (208) 514-1858. You may schedule an appointment online anytime. It’s time to see the world in a whole new light.
