Benefits of Ortho-K

Frustrated with the inconvenience of wearing glasses? Find contact lens expenses or uncomfortable but don’t fancy the permanence or invasiveness of laser vision correction? You aren’t alone. Whilst there are numerous different options to help people who suffer from refractive eye errors that cause them to experience blurred vision, they aren’t without compromise. Many people find that the solutions that they are offered just aren’t quite the right fit for their eyes or lifestyle. Fortunately, there is a fresh alternative – ortho-k.

 

What’s Ortho-K?

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k as it is better known, is one of the newest available treatments for myopia and other refractive eye problems. Ortho-k utilizes the design of contact lenses but uses them to reshape the cornea so that the light that enters the eye can be refracted correctly. However, unlike conventional contact lenses, ortho-k lenses are worn overnight whilst you sleep. This may not normally be recommended for contact lenses, but ortho-k lenses are special, made from gas-permeable material that enables enough oxygen to reach the eyes so that they remain healthy. Every ortho-k lens is bespoke, designed specifically for each patient’s requirements. Whilst you sleep, the lenses apply gentle pressure to the cornea to reshape it in such a way that the next day, you will be able to remove them and see clearly without using glasses or contact lenses.

Ortho-k works progressively. This means that you need to wear contact lenses every night in order to achieve the optimal result. At its peak, ortho-k could allow you to see with complete clarity for up to 48 hours before your vision begins to deteriorate. And deteriorate it will, since ortho-k is also completely reversible and should you cease treatment, your vision will return to what it was before.

 

Benefits of Ortho-K

You’ve probably already got a pretty good idea that ortho-k has a lot to offer patients. Here’s what you need to know about some of the most important benefits associated with this innovative new treatment.

• Most people are good candidates for ortho-k. This includes children and those patients who have corneal abnormalities that make conventional contact lenses uncomfortable.

• Patients who successfully use ortho-k can go through an entire day without relying on glasses or contact lenses. Some people find that their vision is even better than it was when they were wearing glasses or contact lenses.

• It is a non-surgical, non-invasive and painless solution.

• The results are completely reversible when you choose to stop treatment.
  
   

Ortho-k and Myopia Control

In addition to being a solution for correcting your current vision, ortho-k can also be used to prevent your myopia from worsening. Myopia is a progressive condition, and without treatment, you are virtually guaranteed to see your vision deteriorating over time. You are also more likely to develop some eye disease and experience some ocular problems. these include glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment. Ortho-k has been proven to be an effective tool at slowing and even halting the progression of myopia in adults and children alike.

For more information about ortho-k and it’s benefits, please get in touch with our expert eye care team at Tri-City Optometry in Fremont, CA today.