Orthokeratology

Clear vision without surgery, glasses, or daytime contacts.

What if you could correct your eyesight and reduce your dependence on corrective lenses, all while you sleep?

It may sound impossible. But for many, it’s a reality with orthokeratology (ortho-k).

Interested? Schedule an appointment with your eye care provider to learn more.

What is orthokeratology?

Ortho-k uses specially designed, gas permeable contact lenses to temporarily reshape your cornea while you sleep.

The result is clear vision when you wake up and remove the lenses the following day. And that effect should last throughout the day.

The change in the shape of the cornea, as well as the vision correction you experience, will revert when you stop using the lenses.

What visual problems can ortho-k correct?

Ortho-K is most commonly used to temporarily correct myopia (nearsightedness).

In some cases, it can be used to correct lesser degrees of astigmatism and farsightedness.

To find out if ortho-k is right for you, get in touch with your eye care provider.

How Ortho-k Works

OrthoK lenses act like temporary corneal molds or retainers. They are custom-fitted to your child’s eye to create a precise, controlled pressure change.

Mechanism of Action: The lenses work overnight to flatten the central cornea, correcting the prescription. Crucially, they also create a specific peripheral defocus pattern that tells the eye to stop growing longer.

1. Overnight Reshaping: The lenses are inserted just before sleep and removed upon waking.
2. Daytime Freedom: The corrected corneal shape holds throughout the day, providing clear vision without optical aids.
3. Myopia Control Signal: The change in corneal shape moves the peripheral light focus forward, which is the key signal scientifically proven to slow down axial elongation (eye growth).

Benefits and Suitability

• Freedom from Glasses: Offers the major lifestyle benefit of clear vision during all daytime activities, including sports, swimming, and school.
• Highly Effective Control: Proven to be one of the most effective methods for slowing myopia progression.
• Reversible: The effects of the reshaping are temporary. If the patient stops wearing the lenses, the cornea reverts to its original shape.
• Ages: Suitable for children of all ages who can handle the insertion and removal of contact lenses, often starting as young as 6 or 7.

The Treatment Process

The OrthoK process requires a series of precision appointments for initial mapping and fitting. Once the custom lenses are finalized, nightly wear and strict hygiene are critical. Our program includes mandatory follow-up appointments every 3 months to monitor corneal health, track the eye’s axial length, and adjust the lens design as needed to ensure continuous treatment efficacy.

Am I a good candidate for ortho-k?

Only your eye care provider can answer that question.

However, most people with mild to moderate myopia are good candidates.

The treatment is highly preferred for people who have issues wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Want to learn more about your options? Schedule an appointment at Fremont Optometric Group to see if orthokeratology is right for you.