If you’re near-sighted, or myopic, waking up to find your glasses—or stumbling over to the sink to put your contacts in—is just a fact of everyday life. Having crisp, clear vision at all distances from the moment you wake up is either a gift for the lucky few or a benefit for those who opt for laser surgery—or is it?
You may have another option: orthokeratology, or Ortho-K. Orthokeratology involves the use of rigid lenses that reshape your eyes while you sleep—similar to how Invisalign or oral retainers work. This allows you to have clear vision from the moment you wake up and throughout your day. You remove the lenses upon awakening, and thanks to the corneal reshaping induced by the lenses, you enjoy vision comparable to what you’d experience with glasses or contacts—but without needing any eyewear during the day.
If you have children who are myopic, there may be an even greater benefit. Any parent of a near-sighted child has likely heard the dreaded phrase: “I think your child’s prescription has gotten worse.” Fortunately, Ortho-K is a well-studied method of myopia control. It has been shown to significantly slow the progression of near-sightedness. In fact, in countries like China, where near-sightedness is considered an epidemic, Ortho-K is widely used to help reduce the rate at which children’s prescriptions increase. While it may not completely stop the progression, it can cut the rate of change by half—or even more.
Since the risk of many eye diseases is directly associated with the severity of a patient’s near-sightedness, every bit of reduction is meaningful.
Overall, orthokeratology is an excellent option for myopic patients who wish to enjoy clear daytime vision without eyewear—and especially so for children. It is very safe and effective; however, it does come with some limitations. Ideally, patients (or their parents) need to be comfortable inserting and removing the lenses. It may not be possible to fully correct particularly high prescriptions or significant astigmatism. Additionally, patients over 40 may not be the best candidates for Ortho-K. In our 40s, our eyes undergo a process called presbyopia, where focusing on near targets such as computers and cell phones becomes more difficult. Myopic patients whose vision is corrected with Ortho-K—as with glasses or contacts—may find that their near vision starts to decline and may require a reading prescription as well.
If you’d like to find out whether you’re a candidate for orthokeratology, book a consultation with our doctors today!
-Dr. Helon Law BSc, OD