Ortho-K: A Non-Surgical Process

Ortho-K (short for Orthokeratology) is a non-surgical method to gently mold the curvature of the eye to enhance vision by using specially designed contact lenses.

Orthokeratology is a surgery-free way for people to leave their glasses and not have to wear contact lenses all the time. Thus, it is a revolutionary procedure that banishes the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses. It enhances vision by gently reshaping your eyes while sleeping using specially designed therapeutic contact lenses. Best Ortho-K is basically the science of changing the curvature or shape of the cornea to diverge the way light is focused on the retina at the back of one's eye.

You just put the specially fitted lenses in at bedtime, and when you awake, you will have a clear, sharp, natural vision for your waking hours. 
As the cornea separates the eye from the air and the rest of the outside world and its curvature bends light towards the back of the eye, it is responsible for most of the eye's corrective power and contributes to various conditions.

This safe and effective treatment can ameliorate near-sightedness (including high prescriptions), farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia (blurred near vision). It is a great substitute for LASIK for those who don’t want the risk or are not prepared for surgery.

Ortho-K

A few important tests need to be performed if you choose Orthokeratology. The most important test is to determine if your eyes are healthy.

Another important thing is the mapping of your cornea which determines how your cornea is shaped. An instrument called a Topographer is used for this purpose.

On picking up the retainer lenses you are instructed on how to insert, remove, and take care of your vision retainers. The fit of your retainers will be evaluated and you will meet after your first night of wear. On the first day, the doctor will evaluate your fit again and newly corrected vision and another mapping of your cornea will be done. Throughout your initial fitting period,  Orthokeratologist checks your corneal health and the effectiveness of treatment. Results can be produced in a surprisingly short period of time. The length of treatment may differ from patient to patient. Your initial prescription, corneal rigidity, expectations, tear quality & quantity all affect the speed of treatment.

It can sometimes be used to correct children's vision.

When ortho-k lenses are removed, the cornea stays flattened for a while and vision is corrected without requiring glasses. If you don't wear the lenses at night, your eyes will gradually go back to their original shape and the refractive error will return. You need to wear the lenses regularly to keep the vision correction.

It can take two weeks or longer to attain the maximum vision correction from the process, although some people experience credible vision improvement in days.

Generally, up to three pairs of orthokeratology lenses are used, one after the other, to attain the best vision correction. Once the desired prescription is reached, the same shape of lens each night can be used to maintain the correction. Once your cornea gets the desired curve, retainer lenses can be used to maintain vision. It is associated with an increased risk of infection, especially for children & adolescents. They can be more dangerous than glasses.

There is no specific time period on how long you can use orthokeratology lenses. You can consult your ophthalmologist for regular check-ups. But if your eyes stay healthy and comfortable, it could be used for years. Although it's a costly process there may be some cases where insurance would recommend &  pay for the lenses. The cost varies significantly depending on type & a degree of refractive error. You can also visit A+ Optometry in Melbourne.

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