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What is Ortho-K Therapy?
Ortho-K therapy, also known as orthokeratology, is a vision treatment designed to reduce dependence on visual aids such as glasses and contact lenses. Most long-term visual correction approaches are surgical, but Ortho-K therapy allows individuals to comfortably correct their vision – while sleeping!
How Does Ortho-K Therapy Work?
Orthokeratology involves specially designed, gas-permeable contact lenses which are customized to fit your eyes and vision correction needs. These special lenses are made to be worn while sleeping, unlike normal contact lenses which do not allow oxygen to reach the eyes as you sleep. Over time, they work to gently and temporarily reshape the cornea, or the outermost layer of the eye. The next day when the contacts are removed, visual acuity is enhanced. This therapy enables patients to see clearly without visual aids anywhere from two days to two weeks with overnight use.
Who is a Candidate for Ortho-K Therapy?
Ortho-K is used most commonly on myopic (nearsighted) individuals. This therapy can also be used to correct astigmatism, hyperopia, and presbyopia. Good candidates for Ortho-K are those who experience mild to moderate levels of myopia, particularly those looking to become less dependent on reading glasses or contact lenses to navigate daily activities. Astigmatism does not affect candidacy for Ortho-K therapy.
Ortho-K therapy is sometimes recommended for children, teens, or young adults who aren’t yet good candidates for LASIK or other permanent procedures because their vision continues to change over time. However, good hygiene is crucial to reducing the risk of complications, so any possible candidate for Ortho-K must have good sanitary habits in place.
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YOUR VISION IS OUR MISSION
I received a prompt appointment at a day and time that was best for me to coincide with my wife’s nearby appointment at South Shore Medical. I sent through my battery of tests with a technician and had my eyes dilated. The drops they use are much more comfortable than at other places. And then the Dr. examined me. Everyone was very nice and explained things clearly. I’m looking forward to my new tuned up lenses!
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How is Ortho-K Done?
To begin the process of Ortho-K therapy, your eye doctor will first use a technology called a corneal topographer to measure eye curvatures; these measurements are used to determine what lens measurements are appropriate for your circumstances. The lens will be fitted, and the first night of use may cause some discomfort due to the unfamiliar sensation. However, with time and as the eye adjusts, they typically become more comfortable and unnoticeable. You may need to go through more than one pair of lenses to find the right prescription – once you do, you may use a retainer lens to maintain your vision.
The lenses work by temporarily flattening the cornea and adjusting how light refracts as it enters the eye. By doing this, you can adjust where light focuses on the retina, causing clearer vision. This is only temporary, though, and a refractive error can return if you don’t continue to wear the lenses at night.
Can I Get LASIK If I Use Ortho-K Therapy?
It’s still possible to undergo other vision correction procedures after Ortho-K, but you will need to discontinue lens use before surgery based on your eye doctor’s recommendations. This allows the cornea to return to its natural shape so it can be corrected with laser surgery.
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