What is Orthokeratology
WHAT IS ORTHOKERATOLOGY?
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K for short, is a non-surgical and reversible procedure in which custom-designed contact lenses are used to gently reshape the cornea (front surface) of your eye. It uses the forces of the eyelid and tear fluid beneath the lens to reshape the top layers of the cornea. Lenses are worn while sleeping and removed in the morning, giving you clear vision during the day without the aid of glasses or contact lenses.
For treatment of myopia, the lens produces a flatter central cornea, correcting near-sightedness by decreasing the power of the eye. Orthokeratology is one of the most effective treatments to slow myopic progression in children.
Using a Medmont corneal topography map of your cornea, (taken by our optometrist, Dr. Koh), specialized software is used to design a computerised simulation of your custom made lens, without the need for time consuming and uncomfortable in office trial fitting.
Improvements in vision can usually be seen the next day, with the procedure stabilising after a week. With high myopia over -6.00D, astigmatism and hyperopia the process can take two to four weeks to achieve full correction. Ortho-K does not permanently change the shape of the eye. Your eyes’ shape will revert back to their original state within one to four weeks if you stop wearing the lenses.
How Ortho-K Helps Kids and Teens with Myopia
Slows Myopia Progression
One of the most significant benefits of Ortho-K lenses is their ability to slow down the progression of myopia in kids as young as 8 years old. Studies have shown that children who use Ortho-K lenses experience a slower rate of myopia progression compared to those who wear traditional glasses or contact lenses. This reduction in myopia progression decreases the risk of developing high myopia and its associated complications later in life.
Provides Clear Vision All Day
Ortho-K lenses provide children with clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses. This freedom is particularly beneficial for active children who participate in sports and other physical activities where glasses can be a hindrance.
Non-Invasive and Reversible
Ortho-K is a non-invasive treatment option that does not involve surgery or permanent changes to the eye. The effects of Ortho-K are reversible; if your child stops wearing the lenses, their cornea will return to its original shape over time. This flexibility makes Ortho-K an attractive option for managing myopia in children. Moreover, Ortho-K is an excellent option for kids or teens who may want to opt for LASIK in the future, since lower levels of myopia are easier to correct with surgery.
Enhanced Comfort and Convenience
Children often find Ortho-K lenses more comfortable than traditional contact lenses because they are worn during sleep when the eyes are less active. The convenience of not needing to wear corrective lenses during the day also encourages better compliance with the treatment regimen.
HOW SAFE IS ORTHOKERATOLOGY?
Reshaping the cornea using standard rigid contact lenses was first reported in 1962 at the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists conference in Chicago, by George Jessen who described his “orthofocus” procedure. With technological advancements in lens materials and manufacturing, the modern reverse geometry orthokeratology lens was introduced in the late 1980’s. In 1994, the United States FDA granted the first ever daily wear approval for Ortho-K and in June 2002, the FDA granted approval for overnight wear Ortho-K.
Any contact lens has the potential to cause an infection in your eyes. Research shows the rate of infection using Ortho-K lenses is less than half compared to overnight wear of extended wear soft contact lenses.
Using correct hygiene and lens care regimes as well as replacing the lenses every one to two years significantly reduces the risk of Ortho-K related complications.
A poorly fitted Ortho-K lens can result in corneal staining, which comprises the outer layer on the cornea, and increases the risk for infection. Rather than fit Ortho-K lenses through trial and error using a diagnostic lens from a trial case, our optometrist, Dr. Koh uses a specialized tool called a corneal topographer to calculate and custom design the fit of each Ortho-K lens to the topographical shape of the cornea.
WHAT TYPE OF PRESCRIPTION CAN BE TREATED BY ORTHO-K?
Orthokeratology is effective on nearsighted (myopic), and astigmatic patients. Ideally, your prescription should be in the range of -1.00 to -6.00 with no more than -1.75 diopters of surface astigmatism. In some cases, our optometrist, Dr. Koh, will attempt higher prescriptions but the increased prescription levels may result in partial correction with acceptable vision.
Orthokeratology technology continues to evolve, and in some cases, Ortho-K can also successfully correct corneas with high astigmatism, presbyopia and Post-LASIK (refractive surgery) with residual myopia or irregular treatment areas.
IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT FOR ORTHO-K?
There is no specific age restriction for Ortho-K. Children as young as five have successfully and safely received Ortho-K corneal reshaping. The maturity level and motivation of your child, rather than age, can help determine if your child is old enough to start treatment. In fact, parents like the fact that they can have more control and supervision of the insertion and removal of the orthokeratology lenses at home for their child. A big benefit of Ortho-K is that it has been scientifically proven to slow the progression of myopia, (a process called myopia control) and is one of the most popular methods of myopia control vision correction in children and teenagers.
AM I TOO OLD FOR ORTHO-K?
No, there is no age limit for Ortho-K. In fact, those adult patients that have been turned down for refractive eye surgery due to changes in near vision or dry eyes from aging, can often be ideal candidates for orthokeratology.