Ortho-K treatment corrects your vision while you sleep. Specially designed rigid gas permeable lenses are worn overnight to remove the need for spectacles and contact lenses through the day.
Ortho-K lenses gently reshape the cornea and can be effective for a range of prescriptions. Ortho-K lenses are removed in the morning and the reshaped cornea provides sharp vision throughout the day. Ortho-K lenses need to be worn nightly to maintain the new shape, otherwise the cornea will gradually return to its original curvature.
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Ortho-K treatment corrects your vision while you sleep. Specially designed rigid gas permeable lenses are worn overnight to remove the need for spectacles and contact lenses through the day. Ortho-K lenses gently reshape the cornea and can be effective for a range of prescriptions. Ortho-K lenses are removed in the morning and the reshaped cornea provides sharp vision throughout the day. Ortho-K lenses need to be worn nightly to maintain the new shape, otherwise the cornea will gradually return to its original curvature.
All age groups who want good vision throughout the day, without having to wear spectacles or contact lenses, are suitable. Adults as well as children as young as 6 years of age have been successfully fitted with Ortho-K lenses. If the child is unable to manage the lenses, parents can help in the process until the child becomes more capable. A wide range of prescriptions can be corrected including myopia (short-sighted), astigmatism, hyperopia (long-sighted) and presbyopia (difficulty focussing at near when older). A comprehensive eye examination, including a scan of the shape of the cornea, is needed to assess your suitability.
Children who have myopia. Research has shown that Ortho-K is an effective treatment for reducing myopia progression.
People who have dry eyes. Disposable lenses can dry on the eyes causing irritation and red eyes, especially with prolonged computer use in air conditioning. Without the need to wear a contact lens through the day, your eyes can be more comfortable.
People who play contact or water sports. Ortho-K lenses treatment avoids the possibility of damaging your spectacles or your contact lenses falling out.
People who work in dusty environments. Dust can easily damage spectacle lenses and can make daily contact lens wear uncomfortable. Ortho-K lenses gives you the freedom to have good vision through the day without having to care for your spectacles or contact lenses.
Studies have shown the risk of eye infections when wearing Ortho-K lenses is extremely low if you carefully follow the contact lens care instructions. You will be asked to sign an informed consent form that details your continuing commitment to the contact lens care instructions. All Ortho-K lenses are made from highly oxygen permeable materials for maximum safety. Unlike surgical procedures such as LASIK, Ortho-K treatment is completely reversible.
Research has shown that Ortho-K treatment can slow the rate of myopia progression by an average by 50%. Individual responses can vary; however, some results show complete halting of myopia progression.
People can usually achieve sharp vision throughout their waking hours. To maximise the treatment effect of Ortho-K, the recommended wearing time is at least 6 hours, and preferably 8 hours every night, especially with higher prescriptions.
Ortho-K lenses gently reshape the cornea by using a thin layer of tear film. Ortho-K lenses do not touch the centre of the cornea but use the fluid force of the tear film to temporarily change the shape of the superficial layer of the cornea.
We use highly accurate computer modelling to customise the Ortho-K lens design that allows us to achieve an individualised fitting for each eye.
Over the first few days, Ortho-K lenses may be slightly irritating for a few minutes after insertion, but once you close your eyes that sensation fades. This initial awareness usually disappears after 1 week of regular nightly wear. Regular Ortho-K wearers find the lenses quite comfortable to wear and are rarely aware of the lenses when they are asleep.
Most patients will experience a moderate improvement in their vision after the first night’s wear, but it does depend on the strength of the prescription that we are trying to correct. Usually, it takes 1-2 weeks of regular overnight wear to achieve stable, optimum vision, but high prescriptions may take up to 4 weeks.
Yes. Your Ortho-K lenses have the correct prescription to give you good vision when wearing the lenses. So, if you get up in the night, you will be able to see.
Most Ortho-K lenses need replacing after 1-2 years. Deposits, fine scratches, and minor changes in the lens shape can gradually reduce the effectiveness of the Ortho-K treatment. It is better to replace the lenses earlier, before these changes start to reduce the effectiveness of the Ortho-K treatment.
There is no restriction on how many years you can wear Ortho-K lenses.