Benefits of Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology, also knowns as corneal refractive therapy, is a nonsurgical procedure in which the patient will wear rigid gas-permeable contact lenses overnight. This therapy aims to temporarily lessen myopia. As a result, you are going to have a functional UCVA during the day. This means that you don’t have to wear glasses and contact lenses during the day.

Who Is Suitable For Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology is best for patients who have low myopia and do not want to have a refractive surgery. The best benefit that you can get from this procedure is being free from wearing glasses and contact lenses during the day. The best way to know whether you are a good candidate for orthokeratology is to schedule a screening with your eye doctor. During the screening, your current prescription will be examined.

Orthokeratology is a good fit for patients who have myopic prescriptions. Although, patients who have astigmatic prescriptions can also qualify for Corneal refractive therapy. This is also best for children who have a family history of high or progressive myopia since it can help in reducing the rate of myopic progression. It is also effective in preventing the development of myopia in children. This is the best option for people who have fear of surgery. Athletes who can’t wear glasses when performing their athletic activities can also take advantage of Ortho K.

How Long Should Orthokeratology Lenses Be Worn?

If you desire to stop wearing the orthokeratology lenses, then it will take some time before your cornea can return to its original form. You need to visit your eye care professional more often so he/she can do some tests. If you want to have a refractive surgery such as Lasik, then we highly recommend that you should wait until your corneal shape is completely stable.

Is It A Safe Option?

At the moment, Orthokeratology or OrthoK is being used for reducing myopia by performing corneal flattening. However, it can also be used for treating astigmatism, nearsightedness, and hyperopia. It can even be used for treating presbyopia. Nowadays, myopia is considered one of the greatest health issues. In fact, high myopia can cause visual impairment. Consequently, the visual complications from myopia can appear much earlier. Hence, this can greatly affect the patients’ lives. According to some studies, OrthoK is one of the safest options for treating myopia.