When you start to notice that your eyesight if not what it once was, it’s common to go into denial. Why is it that so many short-sighted people resist the advice of family and friends to go to an optician to get their eyes tested?
Most of our patients tell us that they put it off because they didn’t like the inconvenience and limitations resulting from having to wear glasses or contact lenses for the rest of their lives.
For years these were the only treatment options available, and then laser surgery came along, promising to restore perfect vision without the need for uncomfortable or unfashionable external lenses.
Of course, like most things that sound too good to be true, this potentially life changing option has its limitations and its risks. Many people find the idea of having laser treatment, that permanently burns off part of their cornea, a step too far. This, coupled with numerous horror stories in the media, featuring people whose eyesight had worsened after inappropriate laser surgery, has left many short-sighted patients without an acceptable alternative.
More recently a safer, more convenient alternative has come on the market following years of research. It’s called Ortho-K, and it offers a non-destructive way to correct short sightedness (myopia) without the need to wear contact lenses or glasses during the day.
Ortho-K or orthokeratology to give it its full name harnesses the discovery that specially shaped hard lenses can, when worn overnight, gently reshape the front part of the eye, correcting short sightedness without the need for daytime use. This effect lasts all day but you should remember that, if the overnight use of these lenses is discontinued, the eye will eventually revert to its previous shape and the short-sightedness will return.
Clear natural vision in five simple steps
Visit 1 – We use a state of the art device called a topographer to create a contour map of your eyes which is then sent to the lab, allowing them to create your Ortho-K lenses.
Visit 2- Collect your Ortho-K lenses, return home and wear them overnight.
Visit 3 – See us first thing the next morning, before you remove your lenses for the first time.
Visit 4 – 1-week follow-up appointment to check everything is OK and make corrections if necessary.
Visit 5 – 2nd follow up appointment for final checks.
Ortho-K and children
Short sightedness in children is on the rise and has been associated with an increased risk of associated problems in later life. Sadly there is currently no cure, but Ortho-K has been shown to be the most effective way of slowing its progression in children.
A Summary of the Benefits of Ortho-K Treatment
Because Ortho-K lenses are only worn overnight
- Allows full participation in sports and activities
- Eliminates daytime discomfort common with contact lenses
- Reduces incidence of dry-eye
- Reduces risk of lost lenses
- Clear vision without the risks associated with surgical interventions
- Price comparable with daily disposable contact lenses
Is Ortho-K suitable for you?
The literature states that Ortho-K is available to patients with myopia between -0.75D and-5.00D and astigmatism of up to -2.50D, which probably means absolutely nothing to most people. The best way to check if Orth-K is an option for you is to come in, with your most recent prescription, and talk to one of our fully qualified team.
