Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-k, is a special kind of contact lens that is used to reshape the cornea to temporarily improve a person’s vision. Ortho-k is usually used to treat myopia in children, but some adults benefit from Ortho-k treatment as well.
Optometrists typically recommend Ortho-k lenses to be worn when sleeping, but can you wear them with your eyes open during the day?
The answer is no, Ortho-k lenses should not be worn with open eyes for long periods. This is because Ortho-k lenses are rigid and are more likely to move or fall out when worn with eyes open, which may lead to an increased risk of corneal abrasion.
What are Ortho-K Lenses?
Ortho-k contact lenses are not like regular contact lenses. Most contact lenses are designed to help your vision by changing the way that light is focused on your retina. Ortho-k lenses work by applying pressure to the cornea, which causes it to change shape. This change in shape allows the cornea to temporarily focus light more accurately on the retina.
Due to this reshaping, individuals using Ortho-k lenses can temporarily see more clearly without prescription glasses or contacts.
Each Ortho-k lens is custom-made based on an extensive mapping of the cornea done by an optometrist. Lenses are made from a solid, breathable material. By being breathable, oxygen can pass through the lenses even when they are worn to maintain eye health.
How Do Ortho-K Lenses Work?
So how do Ortho-K lenses reshape your cornea? Ortho-k lenses will sit on top of the thin layer of tears that protect your eye from the air. Placing the lens on top of the tear layer causes water pressure on the eyes’ cornea.
This pressure forces the cornea to move outwards into a flatter shape. The edges of the Ortho-k lens will contain how far the cornea is pushed outwards. The applied pressure changes the lens temporarily into a more correct shape.
The temporary new shape of the cornea should mirror that of a properly-shaped cornea. Correcting the shape of the cornea allows light to be focused correctly on the back of the eye, leading to clearer vision.
What are the Risks of Wearing Ortho-K Lenses?
As with any contact lenses, Ortho-k contacts do come with some risks. There are two main risks associated with wearing Ortho-k lenses. The first risk is infection, and the second is corneal abrasion.
Contact use can lead to corneal infections if proper hygiene isn’t followed when inserting and removing contacts. Corneal infections occur when microbes or bacteria are trapped on your cornea.
If unclean contacts are inserted into the eye, bacteria can be placed directly onto the cornea, leading to an increased risk of infection. This is why proper hygiene and cleaning procedures are vital when using contacts.
Corneal abrasion is when your cornea is scratched or damaged somehow. If your contacts are damaged or used and stored incorrectly, they may start to cause abrasions. Ortho-k lenses have a higher risk of causing corneal abrasion due to their rigidity and the water pressure that they create on the cornea.
Who Can Benefit from Ortho-K Lenses?
While adults do use Ortho-k lenses in some conditions, Ortho-k lenses are much more common in children. More specifically, Ortho-k is used most often to treat and manage myopia in children. Ortho-k lenses are a great option for child myopia as there is ample evidence that they can slow down the progression of myopia in children. In fact, orthokeratology is one of the preferred monotherapy treatment options for myopia control and management.
Some adults will also use Ortho-k lenses to treat myopia. However, this is less common, and adults will typically opt for regular contacts, prescription eyeglasses, or LASIK surgery. However, people who are not candidates for LASIK surgery, or those who suffer from severe dry eyes and would like to leave their glasses or contacts at home may use Ortho-k as a treatment option.
Are Ortho-K Lenses Right for You?
Only your optometrist can tell you if Ortho-k lenses are right for you. The best way to address your or your child’s eye care needs is by booking a comprehensive eye exam and consulting an optometrist.
If you and your optometrist decide that Ortho-k is the right treatment for you or your child, our expert team at Foresee Eyecare will help fit you for the right contacts for your eyes. We are also a Myopia Control Centre of Excellence and offer a variety of treatments for childhood myopia, allowing your child to reach their full visual potential and slow down myopic progression.At Foresee Eyecare, we are dedicated to making sure your vision needs are met. So book an appointment with us today! If you have any questions about our team and services, contact us for more information!
