Many patients come to us every day struggling to get through their daily lives with their current choice of vision correction. Some have eyeglasses that do not sit properly on their face or feel that their peripheral vision is hindered by the frames, while some contact lens patients may find their lenses become more uncomfortable throughout the day.  Generations ago, eye doctors knew that the cornea on the eye was soft and somewhat pliable. They realized that specially designed contact lenses could push the eye back into the proper shape, would enable an individual to see clearly even if they were not wearing their prescription lenses. Hence the birth of Orthokerotolgy or Ortho-K was born. But today, with the discovery of highly oxygen permeable materials, Ortho-K has seen a resurgence. We are please to offer night time Ortho-K, a revolutionary way to help you see clearly throughout the day without having to wear glasses or contacts and without having to get laser eye surgery.

What is Ortho-K?

A highly gas permeable contact lens with a very unique curve is placed into the eye each night before bed and the lens gently pushes the eye into the proper shape while you sleep. In the morning, you can remove the lenses and still see clearly throughout the day. Some patients can even see clearly for up to three days after wearing them for just one night! Ortho-K has been shown to slow up myopia progression in kids and it is the mainstay of our myopia management program.
 

Who Should Consider Ortho-K?

• Kids needing nearsighted glasses at an early age.

• Frequent changes in prescription. 

• Those wanting to keep their myopia from progressing. 

• Allergies to the materials in contact lenses

• Dry eye that is made worse by wearing prescription lenses

• Dirt or other debris that fequently gets under the contact lenses

• You play sports and do not want to worry about glasses or contacts

• The ability to wake up at night and see clearly

• A general dislike of glasses or contacts
   

How Long Does It Take?

Once you receive your custom Ortho-K contact lenses, it will take anywhere from one to four weeks to fully see all the improvements to your vision. Some however, find that their vision has improved after only one night of wear.  During the first few days, you may also still need to wear prescription lenses to see clearly enough to drive or get through your normal day, but that is generally quickly resolved. Also, some patients experience some mild discomfort for the first few nights, but as your eyes adjust over a few days, you should no longer be bothered by the feel of your lenses. Orthokeratology was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002. The procedure is considered safe, effective, and reversible. However, there are some side effects associated with Ortho-K. Most of these side effects are a result of improper cleaning of the lenses that can lead to a minor infection. These infections are usually remedied fairly quickly with the use of antibiotic eyedrops.
 

Overview

If you are sick and tired of wearing contact lenses or glasses every single day and would like an alternative way to correct your vision, consider trying Ortho-K. If you would like more information on Ortho-K, please call our offices today and see how we can improve your everyday life.