If you have been thinking about ways to improve your vision without the need for corrective eyewear, ortho-k may be the solution you have been searching for.
Many people believe that the only way to correct vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses is to undergo LASIK refractive surgery.
What you may not know is that ortho-k can improve your vision while you sleep, enabling you to be glasses and contacts-free throughout the day.
Ortho-k may be just the solution you have been searching for.
What are ortho-k lenses?
Ortho-k lenses are rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses that are worn at night while you sleep and are removed each morning upon awakening. These lenses float on top of the eye’s tear film, applying gentle pressure to flatten the surface of the cornea and alter its shape. The effects last throughout the day, allowing you to see clearly, without any day-time glasses or contact lenses.
Ortho-k lenses are prescribed by specific eye doctors who have undertaken years of post-graduate training.
Ortho-k versus LASIK surgery
While LASIK surgery is an effective treatment for long term vision correction, more and more patients are choosing ortho-k as their preferred method of treatment.
Find out why below:
Less risk of serious side effects. Many people shy away from LASIK surgery because of the risks involved. The most common side effects of corrective laser eye surgery typically include dry eye, over or under-correction, blurred vision, and eye infections.
In some cases, follow-up procedures may be required as well— further increasing the risks of complications.
Ortho-k on the other hand, can be just as effective in correcting vision, without the risk of serious side effects.
Irregular eye conditions. Ortho-k is a great solution for patients who are not eligible for LASIK surgery due to thin or irregular corneas, high refractive errors, unstable vision or severe dry eyes.
Affordability. While more expensive than regular contact lenses, ortho-k lenses are less expensive than laser eye surgery.
Available to children. Ortho-k can be prescribed for children (sometimes as young as eight years old) and teenagers, to control myopia progression and correct vision. In contrast, LASIK surgery is only available for patients over the age of 20— the age in which the eye generally stops growing.
Total vision correction. Ortho-k lenses are custom made to deliver results that can completely eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses during the day. In contrast, following LASIK surgery, some patients may still require corrective eyewear.
Reversible. With ortho-k, the cornea will return to its original shape when the lenses are not worn. As a result, no permanent changes are made to the cornea and LASIK surgery can be an option at another point in time.
If you have myopia, contact an eye doctor near you, who can discuss the best options for myopia management.
SEE RELATED: How Does Ortho-K Work?
Is ortho-k right for you?
Ortho-k lenses provide clear vision throughout the day and have become a preferred method of vision correction for many optometrists and their patients.
If you would like to shelve your glasses or contact lenses and enjoy the benefits of being free from daily corrective eyewear, talk to your optometrist about ortho-k.
Ortho-k may be just the solution you have been searching for.
LEARN MORE: Guide to Myopia Management
Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam, and to discuss the best options for your myopia.
