Sleep Your Way to Better Vision? The Pros and Cons of Ortho-K

If your lifestyle isn’t compatible with eyeglasses or contact lenses, orthokeratology lenses might be the solution you’ve been looking for. This innovative method involves specialized overnight contact lenses, which, when removed, leave you with clear vision that lasts all day. Whether you are a pro athlete or work in arduous environments, discover why ortho-k might be for you.

What is Orthokeratology?

Orthokeratology is a technique designed to correct refractive errors by temporarily changing the shape of the cornea using rigid contact lenses. Nighttime orthokeratology lenses are worn while the patient sleeps to gently reshape the cornea, gradually flattening the corneal curve that causes blurred vision.

Many patients with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism have jobs or hobbies that make wearing glasses or contact lenses impractical. Ortho-k lenses are a convenient, temporary, non-surgical way to enjoy clear vision throughout the day without wearing glasses or contacts.

Ortho-k lenses are custom-made for your eyes to ensure a perfect fit, giving you the ideal vision correction to go about your daily life freely. Suitable for professional athletes, children, and every patient in between, ortho-k overnight lenses are an excellent alternative to traditional vision correction.

Ortho-K Lenses and Myopia Progression

The primary benefit of Ortho-K lenses in the context of myopia management lies in their ability to slow down the progression of nearsightedness. Several studies have indicated that children who use Ortho-K lenses experience a significantly slower progression in their myopia compared to those who use traditional corrective eyewear or contact lenses. The mechanism behind this is believed to involve the redistribution of corneal cells, which alters the focus of peripheral light on the retina and may signal the eye to reduce its axial elongation—a key factor in the progression of myopia.

For many families, the lifestyle advantages of Ortho-K lenses are a significant consideration. By providing clear vision without the need for glasses or daytime contacts, these lenses can be especially beneficial for children who are active in sports or other physical activities. Additionally, not having to wear glasses during the day can improve a child’s self-esteem and confidence. However, it’s important to ensure that the child adheres to the nightly routine of wearing and properly caring for the lenses, as improper use can lead to complications such as eye infections.

How do Orthokeratology Lenses Work?

Orthokeratology lenses gently flatten the cornea, the clear dome in the front of your eye. The cornea is responsible for focusing light onto the retina, and when misshapen, it causes light to focus incorrectly, leading to blurred vision.

Ortho-k lenses are custom-made for your eyes using specialized topographical mapping technology, which shows the exact shape of your corneas. Your lenses will be designed using the corneal map to help your eyes meet the shape that will provide the best vision.

The rigid gas-permeable (RGP) orthokeratology lenses are worn overnight to gradually reshape the cornea so that light is focused correctly. This process doesn’t work immediately and can take a few weeks and a few modifications to the lenses to reach the optimal shape.

Once the correct curvature is achieved, the lenses should be worn at night to maintain the shape. Ortho-k lenses must be worn nightly, or the corneas will return to their original shape, and the blurry vision will return.

What is the Difference Between Ortho-K Lenses and Regular Soft Contact Lenses?

Orthokeratology overnight lenses are only worn while sleeping and removed in the morning. They are similar to wearing a orthodonture retainer every night but for your eyes. They maintain the correct corneal curve so you can have clear vision throughout the day.

Rigid lenses can also take longer to adjust to than soft lenses, but they are not painful to wear, and any lens awareness should lessen after a few days.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Orthokeratology Lenses?

Every patient is unique, and their experiences with ortho-k lenses can differ. However, you must know some common pros and cons when considering ortho-k lenses.

Pros

They are only worn at night. The main benefit of orthokeratology lenses is the visual freedom you can enjoy during the day. You can go about your day without worrying about glasses or daytime contact lenses once the lenses are removed.

Orthokeratology lenses are custom-made. These RGP lenses are manufactured for your eyes to fit your unique eye shape and corneal curvature to meet your desired vision outcome.

Ortho-k lenses offer temporary, non-surgical correction. For those who feel uncomfortable with ocular surgery, ortho-k is the ideal alternative.

Cons

The changes induced by orthokeratology are not permanent. If you stop wearing your ortho-k lenses regularly, your eyes will return to their natural shape within a couple of weeks, and you will have blurred vision again.

The orthokeratology process can be more costly compared to traditional soft contacts at first but the lenses don’t have to be replaced as often and therefore the long term costs may be similar to or even less than traditional soft contact lenses.

Due to the rigidity of the lenses, most patients experience some discomfort and sensitivity when first wearing their ortho-k lenses. This sensitivity does pass, but expecting your eyes to feel strange for the first few days is essential.

The Potential of Nighttime Vision Correction

Orthokeratology has been shown to be very effective in slowing the progression of myopia and also offer visual freedom during the day. If you think orthokeratology might be right for you, contact your eyecare practitioner to find out if overnight lenses are right for you!