top of page

Orthokeratology

Would you like to see clearly without the daily use of glasses or contact lenses - without having eye surgery? 

​

With Ortho-K, you can!

What is Ortho-K?

Orthokeratology or "Ortho-K" refers to the use of specially designed contact lenses that you wear overnight.  While you sleep, the lenses gently reshape the cornea (front surface of the eye).  Following overnight treatment, the lenses are removed, and the reshaped tissue allows the user to see clearly without the use of their normal glasses or contact lenses. 

 

The lenses are only made out of ultra breathable, gas permeable materials, which have been FDA approved for overnight use.

Who can use Ortho-K?
Sports Team
Fun in the Pool
How does it work?

Ortho-K lenses are inserted before going to bed.  The unique design of the lens gently reshapes the cornea while you sleep.  After waking, the lenses are removed but their effect remains, leaving the user with clear vision as if they were wearing their glasses!

 

The time to achieve full correction depends mainly on the amount of prescription you have when you start treatment.  Some people have excellent vision after only one or two nights of ortho-k.  Larger prescriptions can take up to two weeks or more for full correction.

​

Ortho-k is completely reversible!  If you decide that you wish to stop your ortho-k treatment (for example, if you wish to have laser eye surgery), simply stop wearing your lenses and your vision will return to your baseline prescription.  This "washout" period can take two weeks or more depending on your prescription and how long you've worn your ortho-k lenses.

Ortho-K is FDA approved for children and adults.  They are primarily used for two reasons:

​

  • To correct refractive error.  It is most commonly used to correct nearsightedness but may be used for lesser degrees of farsightedness, astigmatism and in rarer cases, presbyopia (need for reading glasses).​

​

  • To slow the progression of childhood myopia (Myopia Control)

​

Because the corneal reshaping effect is temporary, little risk is involved, and you can discontinue wearing the lenses at any time - provided you are willing to start wearing glasses or contacts again when your prescription returns!

​

Children and young adults who want to be glasses-free but are too young for LASIK or are not good candidates for refractive surgery for other reasons (for example, dry eyes) often are good candidates for ortho-k. People who participate in water activities or contact sports or work in dusty environments that can pose problems for contact lens wear also can be good candidates.

ortho-k.png
To schedule an appointment for an ortho-k fitting, please call us at
717-626-8100
bottom of page