Orthokeratology is a nearsighted control program where a child sleeps with a pair of breathable contact lenses that gently reshapes their cornea. During daytime, contact lenses are removed and the child will be able to see without their glasses.
A nearsighted patient would have light rays focused in front of their retina:
When corrected with regular eyeglasses or contact lenses, the central rays of light will now be focused on the retina, however the rays of light on the side will focus behind the retina. This would cause the brain to tell the eye to elongate so that they can put the focus back to the retina. This will just begin a cycle again wherein the central rays of light are not focused correctly on the retina.
During orthokeratology, the new shape of the cornea alters how light rays enter the eye, thus preventing the elongation of the eyeball. Orthokeratology does not remove or lessen the grade or prescription, but just controls it from getting higher and higher each year.
Discontinuing of orthokeratology lenses would allow the cornea to go back to its original shape, thus patient may need to go back to wearing eyeglasses. Many researches have shown that comparing nearsightedness management using regular glasses / regular contact lenses and orthokeratology lenses, the ones that used ortho-k lenses had a lesser increase in eyeball length, thus is effective in nearsightedness control.
When can we start orthokeratology? And when do we stop? We can start orthokeratology as young as 5 years of age, and we normally can stop at the age of 17 or 18 years old where nearsightedness does not increase anymore. It depends on the patient if he would like to still continue to wear orthokeratology even after 18 years old to continue to enjoy freedom from glasses and daytime contact lenses. Also, we start recommending myopia control when we see that the patient has high risks of myopia progression based on genetics, ocular condition and environmental factors.
Depending on the doctor, these lenses need to be replaced every 1-2 years. It is a programs as frequent follow up check is needed.
A nearsighted patient would have light rays focused in front of their retina:
When corrected with regular eyeglasses or contact lenses, the central rays of light will now be focused on the retina, however the rays of light on the side will focus behind the retina. This would cause the brain to tell the eye to elongate so that they can put the focus back to the retina. This will just begin a cycle again wherein the central rays of light are not focused correctly on the retina.
During orthokeratology, the new shape of the cornea alters how light rays enter the eye, thus preventing the elongation of the eyeball. Orthokeratology does not remove or lessen the grade or prescription, but just controls it from getting higher and higher each year.
Discontinuing of orthokeratology lenses would allow the cornea to go back to its original shape, thus patient may need to go back to wearing eyeglasses. Many researches have shown that comparing nearsightedness management using regular glasses / regular contact lenses and orthokeratology lenses, the ones that used ortho-k lenses had a lesser increase in eyeball length, thus is effective in nearsightedness control.
When can we start orthokeratology? And when do we stop? We can start orthokeratology as young as 5 years of age, and we normally can stop at the age of 17 or 18 years old where nearsightedness does not increase anymore. It depends on the patient if he would like to still continue to wear orthokeratology even after 18 years old to continue to enjoy freedom from glasses and daytime contact lenses. Also, we start recommending myopia control when we see that the patient has high risks of myopia progression based on genetics, ocular condition and environmental factors.
Depending on the doctor, these lenses need to be replaced every 1-2 years. It is a programs as frequent follow up check is needed.
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