What is Ortho-k

The world of eye care is one of the fastest evolving fields of medicine today. Never before have so many new techniques and scientific breakthroughs been brought before the public in such a short period of time. Orthokeratology is one of those major breakthroughs.

No More Glasses Can you imagine the joy of waking up in the morning and not having to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day? It would free you up for a host of activities that you may otherwise avoid because of your need to wear glasses or contact lenses.

Now, it’s a reality. Wear special therapeutic contact lenses while you sleep and awake in the morning with improved natural vision. Usually, within days to weeks, dramatic vision improvements occur. You need only wear retainer lenses periodically, much like dental retainers. The retainer contact lenses may be worn only while you sleep a few nights a week or they can be worn during the day.

The goal is good vision without glasses or contact lenses during the daytime hours.

Ortho-k’s popularity as a non-surgical alternative of choice to refractive surgery is sweeping the country. Similar goals of freedom from glasses and contact lenses are now possible without surgery, and what is more, Orthokeratology has been in practice for 40 years. It has a great track record as a safe, effective method of correcting myopia. The major reason for its recent popularity has to do with the new accelerated ortho-k procedures that have been developed for faster and larger vision improvements. With the new advances in lens designs, and Computerized Corneal topography analysis ortho-k offers improved results that have created a high level of interest in this wonderful procedure of ortho-k.

Thousands of eager patients, suffering from nearsightedness and astigmatism have taken advantage of the procedure. The very word orthokeratology comes from the Greek word meaning "the science of correcting the cornea." The shortened term is Ortho-k or accelerated Ortho-k.

Most patients suffering from myopia fall into the mild to moderate categories. This means that millions of myopic people are good candidates for Ortho-k.

The Ortho-k procedure uses a series (most frequently one to three pairs) of therapeutic contact lenses to reshape or mold the cornea’s front curvature of the eye to improve nearsightedness and astigmatism.

Because Ortho-k can meet the needs of most nearsighted people and those with astigmatism, it is in demand for a host of occupations that require excellent, unaided vision such as airline pilots, policemen, firemen and others. Then too, there are those who want the benefits of unaided vision for recreational and athletic pursuits. These would include swimming, jogging, tennis, golf, biking, the beach, house and garden, to name a few. It literally frees up people to enter into activities they were reluctant to participate in because of fogging, dust and other disturbing activities. Ortho-k makes it possible to see clearly in emergencies.

A significant need of Ortho-k is children's progressive myopia. Many children suffer from this and they increase their level of nearsightedness as they reach maturity. Today, children are progressing in myopia at an alarming rate.

Stronger and stronger glasses are needed. In many cases of child myopia, Orthokeratologist can prescribe Ortho-k lenses that literally reverse the effects of myopia in children. This is an allowable procedure with children, where refractive surgery is disallowed.

One of the major advantages of accelerated ortho-k’s non-surgical correction is that it can be reversed should you desire return to your former vision. Aging may result in changes in your vision correction or the results of corneal reshaping may require modification. That’s okay, because the effects of ortho-k can be reversed. The reversal process can be accomplished by simply removing the retainer lenses for a specified amount of time. When the retainers are no longer in place, the cornea will then return to its former shape. This reverse procedure allows correction changes and modifications of your cornea if necessary. Refractive surgeries, such as LASIK, on the other hand, permanently removes tissue from your cornea, and cannot be reversed.

Naturally, more and more people want to understand all they can about this marvelous vision correction procedure. They want to know if wearing Ortho-k contact lenses at night really can correct their unaided vision in a matter of days or weeks. Here are some exciting statements from Orthokeratology patients:

"The very next morning after sleeping in these special contact lenses, I could see normally. It was an easy and safe method." Mike C.

"What a great way to improve vision without surgery. I slept comfortably with my accelerated ortho-k lenses on at night for a week and what a difference it has made in my natural vision and correcting my nearsightedness. I can go all day without the help of glasses or contact lenses." June K.(PhD Psychologist)

"My vision improvement was like a miracle. Recreational and sports activities are a joy without wearing my cumbersome glasses. Such sports as tennis, golf, swimming and gardening have no more dependency on glasses." Joe B.

"My vision continued to get worse as the school year went on. I could not see the blackboard clearly. I had to move closer to the T.V. screen to see it. I started this wonderful eye improvement program on Feb. 4th of this year using night wear only three nights on, and one night off. After the first night’s wear, I saw a big improvement. After a week I was seeing normally. I have never worn the lenses during the day. I see with perfect vision throughout the day. It is so easy and so comfortable." Mary D. (Age 11 in the 6th grade)

"My eyesight got progressively worse wearing glasses. I was 20/200 when I began accelerated ortho-k with comfortable night wear. My vision improved to 20/20 in a few days. I have maintained this 20/20 vision throughout the day without lenses for the last year and a half." S. L. P. (14 years’ old)

There are questions that you may want answered: Am I a good candidate? How can I find out? Who’s qualified to perform Corneal molding? How do I find an accelerated ortho-k specialist? How does the procedure work? How long does it take? Success or failure? This exciting accelerated ortho-k book will answer these questions and more.