Orthokeratology
Wouldn’t it be great if you could correct your nearsightedness or myopia and reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses without having to undergo eye surgery? It might sound far-fetched, but it’s a reality for many people. It’s called orthokeratology, or ortho-k.
Ortho-k is not new: It has been performed for decades by optometrists who specialize in contact lens fitting. Interest in orthok-k has increased in recent years due to advances in ortho-k technology and a desire among many people for a non-surgical alternative to Laser surgery(LASIK) and other refractive eye surgery to correct their nearsightedness.
Ortho-k is the design and fitting of special gas permeable contact lenses that gently reshape the clear front surface of the eye (cornea), so you can see clearly even after you remove the lenses. Myopia is caused by the cornea being too steep. Ortho-k, like LASIK, reshapes the cornea so light entering the eye is more accurately focused on the retina. Unlike LASIK, however, the corneal reshaping effect is temporary — generally enough to eliminate your need for glasses or contacts for a day or so. Then you have to wear the ortho-k lenses again to maintain the proper corneal shape.
Ortho-k works best for people who don’t want to wear glasses or contact lenses all day, every day — but don’t mind wearing contact lenses at night, or occasionally during the day. If your primary goal is to reduce your dependence on glasses or contacts during the day, then ortho-k might be a good alternative for you. However, if you want to eliminate the bother of contacts altogether, then ortho-k is not likely to satisfy you.
Ortho-k may be a good option if you suffer from dry eyes. It’s been found that this condition sometimes is worsened by LASIK. Unlike LASIK, ortho-k is reversible. If you try reshaping lenses and later decide you want laser eye surgery instead, you can do that. But you will have to discontinue wearing the lenses and wait a period of time before surgery to allow your corneas to fully revert to their natural shape. As with all contact lenses, there are some possible side effects and complications of wearing ortho-k lenses. Ask your eye care practitioner for details.
