Ortho-K lenses are not your ordinary contact lenses. They’re like “braces” or “retainers” for the eyes. They use specially designed contact lenses to reshape your cornea (the clear surface layer of the eye) and temporarily correct your vision. But what makes Ortho-K different?
Here are 10 things you may not have known about it:
Ortho-K is easy to use
Also known as overnight contact lenses, all you need to do is wear these lenses for at least six (6) hours during sleep and remove them when you wake up. Now, you don’t need your eyeglasses or contact lenses during the day.
Ortho-K can correct refractive errors
Refractive errors refer to eye conditions that cause blurred vision. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Ortho-K can also be used for presbyopia, a condition that refers to the difficulty in reading small text, usually occurring in people age 40 and above.
Effect can last for 24 to 48 hours
With Ortho-K, you may have clear vision for up to 48 hours. But it also depends on various factors – the amount of refractive error/s, how long you’ve been wearing your contact lenses, your age, and your treatment goals.
Kids can wear it too
Ortho-K is not just for adults. Since it’s a perfect alternative for people too young to do LASIK, kids as young as 7 years old can wear it. This means parents won’t have to worry about their kids losing or breaking their eyeglasses. Kids can get to play the sports they like, too! Some studies have also shown that wearing Ortho-K can help slow down progression of nearsightedness.
Be active with Ortho-K
Ortho-K is a good option for people whose job require good vision without having to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, and those who like to engage in sports, such as martial arts, boxing and swimming.
Ortho-K is painless
Wearing Ortho-K contact lenses is painless, but you may feel discomfort at the start because you’re still adapting to them. You may get used to wearing them after a few days.
Ortho-K is safe
Wearing Ortho-K contact lenses while you’re sleeping means that you’re only wearing them for a shorter period than you do with regular contact lenses. This allows normal oxygen supply during the day.
Aside from being FDA-approved, these make use of oxygen-permeable contact lenses, which provide ample oxygen supply to the cornea and let the eye to ‘breathe’ better. That’s what makes these more comfortable to wear and puts you at lower risk of developing eye infections, allergies and dryness. These special contacts also don’t contain water, so they’re less likely to shelter infection-causing. You just have to remember these are still contact lenses – practicing proper handling and care is essential in preventing eye irritations and infections.
You can get back to wearing eyeglasses anytime
Because Ortho-K is non-surgical and it provides temporary vision correction, it’s ok to stop wearing them anytime and just switch back to wearing your eyeglasses. You can also do LASIK once you’re ready or qualified to undergo the surgery.
Getting screened is important
Ortho-K isn’t usually recommended to patients who have any chronic infection on the cornea, eyelids, or sclera (the white part of the eye). More than just the eye grade, the screening will let your eye doctor evaluate your eye condition, check the shape of your cornea, and see the amount of correction needs. Your eye doctor can also determine the appropriate design of the contact lenses, ensuring it fits your cornea well.
Only a licensed optometrist can fit Ortho-K
As these are custom-made contact lenses, it’s important that a licensed optometrist trained in Orthokeratology will fit and dispense them. If you have poorly fitted contact lenses, chances are, the treatment will be ineffective. You may also experience discomfort, or worse, suffer from infections or vision loss.
Asian Eye Institute offers an Ortho-K Package at a reasonable price, and includes screening, contact lens fitting and design, a pair of contact lenses, and up to six (6) follow-up consultations post-fitting. Want to know if you’re qualified for Ortho-K contact lenses? Visit www.asianeyeinstitute.com, call us at 8-898-2020, or send us a message via the chatbot to set an appointment.
