Candidates for Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology, better known as ortho-k, is a new and innovative way of treating refractive eye conditions and preventing them from worsening over time. The treatment relies on the patient wearing special gas-permeable contact lenses overnight that work by reshaping the front surface of the eye, called the cornea. By doing this, the light that passes through the eye is refracted more accurately onto the retina, meaning that our brains interpret a clear rather than blurry image. 

Orthokeratology lenses reshape the cornea while you sleep and are perfectly safe and comfortable to be worn overnight. When you remove them the next morning, your eyes can retain their new shape for up to an entire day at a time, meaning that you can go about your usual activities with perfectly clear and concise vision and no reliance on glasses or contact lenses. 

It is important to be aware that the effects of orthokeratology are temporary. This means that if you stop wearing the lenses consistently overnight, your eyes will no longer be able to retain their shape for a full day. However, this does mean that if you want to choose to stop treatment, you can do so with no adverse effects. 

In addition to helping people to see clearly without vision aids, orthokeratology has also been shown to be effective at slowing or stopping the progression of myopia. This means that it can stop your prescription from worsening, reducing your risk of serious eye problems that can occur as a result of severe myopia. For this reason, it is being increasingly recommended to children to prevent them from seeing a steep decline in their vision. 

 

What Makes a Patient a Good Candidate for Orthokeratology?

There is a range of different factors that make patients good candidates for orthokeratology. However, before you can be approved for this successful treatment, you will first need to undergo a consultation with your eye doctor. They will assess your suitability based on your individual circumstances to ensure that ortho-k is the most effective solution for you. They will also talk to you about your goals and expectations for the treatment and discuss with you how it works and what you can expect to happen. 

Some of the things that can make a patient a good candidate for orthokeratology include the following:

• Myopia (Nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) that falls within specific parameters.

• Presbyopia (where the lens of the eye hardens and becomes less flexible with age)

• Astigmatism provided it is low to moderate in severity.

• The patient is unwilling or fearful of laser vision correction but still wants to be able to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses.

• Patients who are found to be disqualified from candidacy for laser vision correction. 

• The patient is an athlete and can’t wear glasses or contact lenses during their sporting activities. 

• The patient is a child that has experienced a sharp increase in their level of myopia. 

• You have a family history of progressive or high myopia, putting you at significant risk of future problems including retinal detachment, glaucoma and more. 

If you would like to find out if you are a good candidate for orthokeratology, or if you have any questions about the treatment and would like to speak to our team, please contact our office in Westerville, OH.