Orthokeratology

Some people struggle with the chore of wearing their prescription glasses or contact lenses every day. Are you looking for a solution that doesn’t involve invasive procedures or surgery? Orthokeratology may be your answer…

Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K for short, is a form of safe, reversible, and non-surgical vision correction available to both adults and children. Ortho-K uses rigid contact lenses, worn overnight while sleeping, to gently reshape the cornea (the clear dome-shaped tissue at the very front of the eye) so that daytime wear of glasses or contact lenses is not needed.

Imagine seeing clearly without wearing glasses or contact lenses… This is the freedom that Ortho-K can deliver.

Your Bupa Optical optometrist can help you with your orthokeratology contact lens journey. They will advise on the best contact lens options for you and your lifestyle, ensure the best fit and vision is obtained, discuss lens care, and importantly monitor your eye health.

The eye is unique. It is somewhat like a camera in the way it works, using lenses to focus light. The eye uses 2 lenses to focus light, the cornea at the front of the eye and the lens inside the eye.

Orthokeratology lenses float in the tear film of the eye and are designed to apply gentle pressure to the cornea. This gentle pressure temporarily changes the shape of the cornea at the front of the eye while the wearer sleeps. When the lenses are removed on waking, the reshaped cornea now corrects the visual problem and results in clear vision during the day.

Ortho-K is most commonly prescribed for myopia (short-sightedness). It can also be used to correct hyperopia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism. For myopic children and young adults, Ortho-K can be used as a way to slow down the progression of myopia.

Ortho-K is an alternative to glasses, soft contact lenses and refractive surgery, and results in the wearer usually being free of glasses or soft contact lenses through the day.

Anyone who wants clear vision without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses through the day! Ortho-K is ideal for those living an active lifestyle, those whose work environment may not be suitable for soft contact lenses, for children to see clearly for sports and other activities and to reduce the risk of breakage or loss of glasses, and for children who are short-sighted for myopia control.

Orthokeratology is not a permanent vision solution. It can be stopped at any time and the cornea will return to its original shape. The temporary reshaping effect allows for flexibility with children, whose eyes are continuing to change and develop.