Are you sick of wearing glasses during the day? Do you have a child whose prescription keeps changing and getting worse every year? Or are you just sick of wearing soft contact lenses during the day?
Orthokeratology, or ortho-K, may be the solution you are looking for. It is a safe, non-surgical option to correct your vision while you sleep, allowing you to be contact lens or spectacle-free during the day.
OrthoK is a method of vision correction that uses a custom-made rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lens, worn overnight. The lens gently reshapes the front layer of your cornea while you sleep, and on removal in the morning, you have crisp, clear vision for the course of the day. The effect lasts for the day, provided the lens is worn each night. It is particularly effective in slowing the progression of myopia (short-sightedness) in children.
There are many benefits to orthoK. OrthoK is particularly suitable for individuals with active lifestyles who want the flexibility and freedom to engage in their daily activities without glasses or contact lenses. It is a safe contact lens wear option for children and teenagers. It has the most significant benefit of reducing the rate of myopia progression. It is also non-invasive and reversible, and does not require surgery to correct your vision, which comes with its own set of risks.
A typical orthoK fitting process includes an initial assessment, which involves a complete eye exam and taking measurements of the shape of your cornea, known as corneal topography. Your optometrist in Canberra will assess your suitability and discuss whether orthoK is right for you. The custom-made orthoK lenses are then ordered for you using the data that was collected from the initial consultation.
Once the lenses have been manufactured, your optometrist in Canberra will ensure the lenses fit correctly and will teach you how to insert, remove and care for your lenses. The lenses are then taken home and worn for a night or two, after which the first follow-up visit will occur.
This is to ensure your eyes remain healthy and the lenses are fitting correctly.
Depending on your prescription, vision, and the fit of the lenses, the number of follow-up or aftercare appointments needed will be determined. Once you have become an established wearer, routine follow-ups with your optometrist in Canberra every 6-12 months are required.
Whether you’re looking for a glasses-free lifestyle or a way to protect your child’s vision,
Ortho-K offers a safe, convenient, and effective alternative—book in to see one of our optometrists in Canberra today to see if you are suitable.