Am I a Good Candidate for Ortho-K

It can be overwhelming and confusing when you get the news that you need to wear glasses to correct your vision. Most people get this news when they are young, maybe just after joining school. Others get them when they are older after years of having near-perfect vision. For all of these people, prescriptive eyewear usually means changing their lifestyle.

While you can get some form of freedom with contact lenses, you will still have to deal with the occasional slip. Wearing contact lenses can also lead to dry eye.

But this is only true for some contact lenses. Scientists have designed a particular type of lens that you wear only when you sleep. Ortho-k is an excellent alternative for people who want to avoid using eyewear during the day.

What Is Ortho-K?

Ortho-k is most effective for people with mild or moderate myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. However, the results for patients with hyperopia can sometimes be unpredictable. The most distinct feature of Ortho-k is that you wear the lenses when you are asleep. When you wake up, you will have near-perfect vision.

What Does Ortho-K Correct?

• Myopia

In myopia, the cornea bulges outwards, focusing light on the spot before the retina. This usually leads to blurry vision because the image that falls on the retina is poorly focused. It usually affects distance vision.
 

• Astigmatism

On the other hand, astigmatism occurs when your cornea is irregularly shaped, interfering with the light refracting through it. The result is poor vision at all distances. The irregularity of the cornea makes it harder to get a prescription.
 

• Hyperopia

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a condition that affects near vision. It usually occurs from the cornea being flatter than it should be. The flatter cornea leads to light focusing on a point behind the retina when looking at near objects.

How Does It Work?

The leading cause of refractive errors is that the cornea does not have a regular shape as ordinary people. Ortho-k works by reshaping the cornea to correct how light refracts into the eye. The lenses are customized to fit your specific refractive issues and prescription.

In myopia, the lenses slowly reshape the cornea to make it flatter. Astigmatism corrects the irregularity in shape to provide clear vision. In hyperopia, it gently presses the cornea to make it more curved for better vision.

You usually wear the lenses when you go to sleep. The lenses are gas permeable, letting oxygen through, which is healthy for your eyes. When you wake up, your vision will be almost perfect for the whole day.

Who Can Benefit from Ortho-K?

• Children

Ortho-k is one of the few effective myopia management options available for children. The treatment usually provides perfect vision and slows down the progression of myopia.
 

• Active Lifestyles

If you have an active lifestyle, these lenses are perfect for you. You do not have to worry about slipping lenses or falling glasses.
 

• Dusty Workplaces

If you work in dusty environments, wearing contacts may be tricky.

For more on whether you are a good candidate for ortho-k, visit iCare Vision Center LLC at our Seattle, Washington, office. Call (206) 502-2800 to schedule an appointment today.