Accelerated Orthokeratology (OrthoK)

Improve your vision while you sleep- without surgery!

If you've imagined enjoying your daytime activities without the inconvenience of glasses or contact lenses, but have concern about corrective refractive surgery such as LASIK, or have been told you are not a good candidate for eye surgery, then you definitely want to find out more about accelerated orthokeratology (ortho-k).

In addition to eliminating the need for contact lenses or eyeglasses ortho-k also retards the progression of myopia in children or teenagers so progressively thicker glasses may not be needed in later life.

The information below will provide an overview of the orthoK process. You can also view an animation video. For more detailed information, please click on this link to read our Patient's Guide to Orthokeratology.

How Ortho-k works
Simply wear the custom designed ortho-k lenses every night (or for some every other night) and remove them in the morning. While you sleep the lenses gently reshape your cornea to correct or improve near-sightedness (up to –5.00) and astigmatism (up to –1.25). Within two to five days most people are able to enjoy functional daytime visual acuity without correction. There are several individual factors that may influence the speed and degree of corneal molding so perfect success cannot be guaranteed.

Streaming Video Clip from EyeMaginations:
(click the Contact Lenses tab, then select Corneal Molding)

Who enjoys the benefits of orthokeratology?
Active people who enjoy swimming, running, water-skiing, camping, dancing, soccer, tennis, and basically all ball sports.

• Occupations in which glasses or contacts can interfere with performance, such as police, firefighters, pilots, security agents, flight attendants, or anyone who works in dusty environments.
• Individuals who finds glasses a nuisance or who have discomfort on their nose or ears from their frame.
• Individuals who experience discomfort, dryness or problems with soft contact lenses.
• Children who have rapid prescription changes. Research indicates that children fitted with ortho-K lens over a period of time might actually require less correction as they become adults.

Why haven’t you heard more about ortho-k?
Although ortho-k has been practiced since the early 1960s, only in the last 5 years has the technology to precisely measure and monitor the cornea, and new methods of manufacturing contacts plus new contact lens materials approved for over night wear been developed. Fortunately it is a safe option for many people. Many eye care professionals may not offer orthokeratology as a option for one or more of the following reasons: They many have not invested the time required to gain the technical skill and or the money for expensive specialized equipment required to successfully fit these lenses. Also increased effort and office time is necessary.

Advantages
Ortho-k is a safe option for good vision without glasses of contacts. It is not surgery. It can safely be discontinued, reversed or modified at any time with no ill side effects. Once discontinued the eye returns to the condition existing before treatment. It is a non-invasive procedure and costs much less than surgery.

Disadvantages
Overnight lens wear is required or the cornea will revert to its original shape. Ortho-k does not correct farsightedness or presbyopia (loss in near focus due to age). Monovision (correcting one eye for distance and one for near) is an option is many cases. If you are interested in monovision orthoK, additional fees may apply to cover a monovision trial with contact lenses. It is important to determine whether you are comfortable with monovision before you proceed with monovision orthoK.

The Procedure
A comprehensive eye examination and topographical corneal maps and measurements must be performed to determine if you are a good candidate for ortho-k before custom made lenses can be ordered. If you than begin the ortho-k program the fee includes any contacts necessary and six months of follow up care. A dispensing appointment is set up in which the doctor or technician will give the patient instructions on how to handle, insert, and remove the contact lenses. Lens fit, vision and corneal maps are evaluated at every visit. The minimum schedule for follow-up appointments is:

• The next morning after dispensing the lenses
• One week
• One month
• Three months
• Six months

Additional Information

If you would like to find out if you are a good candidate for this safe and effective means of vision correction, call us today at: 919-858-7555

For more detailed information, please refer to our Patient's Guide to Orthokeratology .

We also suggest for more information you use the Internet as a valuable resource using “Orthokeratology” as the word to search by. A great place to start is:

www.ortho-k.net