If you suffer from myopia or any other refractive error, dependence on glasses or contacts is a way of life for you. The truth is you would probably prefer not to be dependent on your prescription lenses. 

For most people, the idea of getting eye surgery is not appealing. Fortunately, there is another option. You can reduce your dependence on the lenses without going through surgery using orthokeratology or ortho-k. 

What Is Orthokeratology

Ortho-k is an innovative solution using custom-designed contact lenses that help improve vision. The lenses are made from gas permeable materials and are designed to be worn overnight. 

They help reshape the cornea or surface of the eye as you sleep. After removing the lenses in the morning, the patient can see clearly without glasses. The cornea can hold the reshaped form for up to 24 to 36 hours.

Who Needs Ortho-K

Eye doctors prescribe ortho-k lenses to correct mild or moderate refractive errors. The lenses are ideal for patients who require myopic prescriptions. They can also be used to delay myopia progression in children. Patients who have a lower degree of astigmatism can also benefit from ortho-k. 

The treatment has also proven to be effective for treating farsightedness and presbyopia or age-related eye lens hardening. The lenses can be worn by kids as young as seven years. Individuals who have active lifestyles could benefit from this vision correction option.  

What to Expect From Ortho-K

Ortho-k treatment usually takes a few weeks before the patient achieves optimal vision correction. However, this will depend on the patient’s condition. Some people experience improvements within days. Patients may require a series of temporary lenses before they achieve the desired prescription. 

You can end up wearing up to three pairs of corneal reshaping lenses before you reach the ideal vision correction. Once your corneas attain the desired curve, you can use the retainer lenses. The ortho-k lenses are worn according to the doctor’s instructions.

Effective Optical Treatment

The customized lenses offer an effective treatment option for vision correction. If used as directed, the vision improvements can be maintained. It is, however, important to know that the improvements are reversible. This means that if you stop using the lenses, the vision correction is halted. For best results, it is vital to wear the ortho-k lenses each night.

Who Fits the Ortho-K Lenses?

Ortho-k lenses are usually fitted by optometrists but they can also be done by ophthalmologists. It is important to realize that ortho-k is a specialized form of contact lens fitting. The fitting requires expertise and it cannot be done by just any eye doctor. 

If you are interested in the treatment option, you need to consult an eye doctor who specializes in the fitting. The eye specialist begins by measuring the shape of the corneas. This procedure takes about one minute and creates a detailed image of the eye’s surface.

To know more about ortho-k, visit Insight Eyecare at our office in ​​​​​​​Las Vegas, Nevada. You can also call (702) 718-7163 to book an appointment today.