What is Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)?
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is a corneal refractive therapy which will temporarily reduce your refractive errors without a surgical procedure.
Ortho-K utilizes custom made rigid gas permeable contact lenses to reshape the cornea while you sleep for at least 7 hours giving the patient a temporary correction of myopia (nearsightedness) and minor astigmatism. Ortho-K lenses are FDA approved specialized contact lenses to help slow down the progression of nearsightedness.
How does Ortho-K work?
Who is a candidate for Ortho-K?
- No age restriction; Yes, it's for all ages!
- The Ortho-K is for healthy individuals of any age who are nearsighted.
- The athletes like swimmer, basketball player, water polo player... etc.
- The Ortho-K is perfect for patients who do not want to wear glasses nor contact lens during the day time.
- Patients are unable to wear contacts due to allergies.
- Patients suffer from DRY EYES, making contact lens wear impossible.
- Patients interested in LASIK but are not quite ready.
- Children who have moderate to severe myopia progression. Your child eye sight is getting worse and worse every year.
The best candidates are children who are 5 years old or above with above -1.00 refractive error with no greater than -6.00 and preferably with anyone no greater than -1.75 astigmatism.
Is it Safe?
Ortho-K is a very safe and reversible therapy. It was approved by the DFA in year 2002. As any contact lens wear, Ortho-K has very little risks such as potential infection and eye discomfort due to poor hygiene and lens care. The risks can be avoided and managed when patient adopting a regime of very careful cleaning and disinfecting, by wearing the lenses as prescribed by doctor and by maintaining the necessary progress follow-up visits.
