Ortho-k for Adults

Ortho-k eliminates the need for glasses or contacts during the day, which offers the following benefits:

• Cosmetic Benefits: Ortho-k is ideal for those who prefer their appearance without glasses.
• Health and Safety: By eliminating the need for daytime glasses or contacts, ortho-k reduces the risks associated with them, such as lost or damaged glasses and lower chances of irritation from contacts dislodging during work or physical activities.
• Myopia Management: Ortho-k not only corrects myopia but also helps in slowing its progression, which is particularly beneficial for adults experiencing ongoing myopia development.
• Non-Surgical Alternative: Ortho-k offers a non-invasive option for vision correction, presenting a viable alternative to LASIK or other surgical procedures.
• Dry Eye Improvement: For those who experience dry eyes from wearing soft contact lenses during the day, ortho-k can significantly alleviate this discomfort by eliminating the need for daytime lens wear.

The cornea is a clear, dome-shaped window in the front of your eye that focuses light onto the retina and is responsible for most of the eye’s ability to focus.  Its tissue is very flexible and can adjust if there is a contact resting on it in the right way.

Ortho-k lenses, FDA-approved for overnight wear, gently reshape the cornea as the wearer sleeps, by utilizing the tears between the ortho-k lens and the cornea.  This subtle flattening of the cornea’s center alters the way light enters the eye, effectively correcting vision. Upon removal of the ortho-k lenses in the morning, the cornea retains its reshaped form for some time, allowing for clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or conventional contact lenses.

During an exam, the doctor will map and measure the surface of your cornea using a unique and specialized device called the Pentacam AXL Wave, and will then design a lens specifically for your eyes. The Pentacam AXL Wave collects 240,000 different data points on the shape of your eyes, and this data is used to design the best possible ortho-k lens.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) and LASIK are both popular vision correction methods, but they have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these can help in making an informed decision about which option might be more suitable for an individual’s needs.

Advantages of Ortho-k:

• Non-Surgical and Reversible: Ortho-k involves wearing specially designed contact lenses overnight to reshape the cornea. It’s a non-invasive process, unlike LASIK, which is a surgical procedure. If you stop using ortho-k lenses, your cornea eventually returns to its original shape.
• Surgical Risks: Ortho-k offers an alternative to surgery. As a surgery, LASIK carries risks such as infection, dry eyes, and in rare cases, more severe complications.
• No Recovery Time: Since ortho-k is non-surgical, there’s no recovery period.
• Suitability for Those Ineligible for LASIK: Some individuals who are not candidates for LASIK due to thin corneas, dry eyes, or other reasons may still be able to use ortho-k lenses.

Disadvantages of Ortho-k:

• Temporary Effect: The vision correction from ortho-k is temporary. Lenses must be worn regularly to maintain the effect, unlike LASIK, which typically offers a permanent correction.
• Daily Maintenance: Ortho-k requires a commitment to daily lens care and hygiene, as well as consistent nightly wear.
• Adaptation Period: Some users may experience discomfort or require an adaptation period when they start using ortho-k lenses.

In summary, the choice between ortho-k and LASIK depends on individual preferences, lifestyle, eye health, and specific vision correction needs. Ortho-k offers a non-surgical, reversible option with benefits of vision correction, while LASIK provides a more permanent solution with quick results but involves surgical risks and a recovery period.

• Initial Adjustment Period: When you first start using ortho-k lenses, there may be a brief period of discomfort as your eyes adjust to wearing lenses overnight. This sensation usually diminishes as you become accustomed to the lenses.
• Gradual Vision Improvement: Vision correction with ortho-k is not instantaneous. Most wearers notice significant improvement within the first few days to a week, but it can take up to two weeks for vision to stabilize. During this period, your vision may fluctuate, and you might need temporary glasses for certain tasks.
• Daytime Clarity: Once your eyes adapt, and the lenses have reshaped your cornea effectively, you should experience clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. This clear vision typically lasts all day for most users and sometimes, multiple days.
• Consistent Wear is Crucial: To maintain the vision correction benefits of ortho-k, consistent nightly wear of the lenses is essential. If you stop wearing the lenses, your cornea will gradually return to its original shape, and your myopia will reappear.

The main concern with ortho-k is an increased risk of infection, such as microbial/bacterial keratitis, if proper hand washing and lens care are not followed.

Our patients often ask about the best brand of ortho-k contact lens for adults.  They also may ask about the typical cost of ortho-k for adults, and/or which brand of ortho-k is the most affordable for adults. At Raleigh Contact Lens Institute, patients come to us wearing many different brands of contact lenses that they have been previously prescribed, including, but not limited to, Paragon CRT, WAVE Night lenses, VST lenses, EyeSpace, and Euclid Emerald.

While we recommend the brands listed above, in special circumstances we will work with additional manufacturers. If you have any questions, we are available for a free phone consultation to discuss your child’s specific situation and can be reached at (919) 850 5910 or hello@raleighcontactlens.com.