Imagine freedom from daytime eyewear! Orthokeratology, best known as Ortho-K, are contact lenses which are only worn at night while you sleep, so that you don’t need contacts or eyeglasses during the day.
Orthokeratology, commonly called ortho-k, is a method used to correct myopia (nearsightedness) or astigmatism by wearing rigid gas permeable contact lenses overnight, so that no corrective lenses are needed during daytime hours.
Gas permeable (GP) lenses specialized for ortho-k are inserted at bedtime and worn as you sleep. Throughout the night, the lenses reshape your cornea gently so that your vision becomes clear on the following morning. The correction is temporary, and ideally no eyeglasses or contact lenses will be needed on the next day or two. In order to maintain sharp visual acuity on a daily basis, you need to wear the ortho-k reshaping lenses every night.
Ortho-K lenses are ideal for nearsighted individuals who would like freedom from glasses and contact lenses during the daytime. Those with healthy eyes who are not eligible for LASIK due to age, such as children are excellent candidates.
Those who require nearsighted vision correction and engage regularly in sports or work in windy or dusty environments also appreciate the convenience of ortho-K.
Our office utilizes Paragon CRT lenses, which are FDA approved for correction of myopia up to -6.00 and -2.00 astigmatism. Because these lenses are custom made, your doctor will determine if you are a candidate based on your measurements.
Although some people have trouble wearing regular gas permeable contact lenses during the day, Ortho-K GP lenses are worn while sleeping – so discomfort and awareness of the lenses in your eyes is generally not an issue.
Success rates for ortho-k are generally higher for more mild vision prescriptions. The ideal goal is to provide 20/20 vision without any need for eyeglasses or contacts during the day.
Note that although improvement in vision is generally reported within a day or two of wearing Ortho-K overnight, the full effects may not be experienced until the lenses are worn for a few weeks. During this transition period, your vision will probably not be as crisp as it was with regular contacts or eyeglasses, and glare or halos around lights may be visible. Until Ortho-K works fully, a temporary pair of eyeglasses may be required for specific actions, such as driving at night.
With 2 convenient locations serving the region, you are never more than a short drive away from a Twenty20 Vision Center location! Schedule an appointment at one of our optical clinics today!