About Ortho-K

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, is the use of specially designed and fitted contact lenses to temporarily reshape your cornea while you sleep. It’s like wearing a retainer brace at night for your teeth. When you take the lenses out in the morning you have perfect vision throughout the day!

Who is Ortho-K for?

Ortho-K works for people who have mild to moderate myopia (short sightedness). It’s a surgery free way to correct your vision without having to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day. People of all ages can use Ortho-K once they are comfortable wearing contact lenses. It is often used for myopic control, meaning it can slow or halt the worsening of progressive myopia in young people.

How does Ortho-K work?

Using an instrument called a corneal topographer, we painlessly map the surface of your eye and then design a custom contact lens just for you. The map is created by reflecting light off the surface of your eye and there is no pain at all. When you wear the Ortho-K lenses at night, they flatten the centre of the cornea and to change how light is bent as it enters the eye during the day. The lenses are gas permeable allowing oxygen through and keeping the eye health. Ortho-K lenses must be worn regularly at night to maintain the vision correction.

The Ortho-K Process

At your first appointment Frank will map the surface of your cornea and design the custom contact lens. On a follow up visit, Frank will fit the lenses, and also provide you with a series of temporary lenses to supplement your vision during the day until the full effects of Ortho-K have taken effect. This can range between two days to two weeks depending on your prescription.