Ortho – Keratology

What is Ortho-Keratology

This is the process of gently reshaping the front of the eye (Cornea) using a rigid gas permeable contact lens overnight. The result being clear, natural vision in the day without the need for spectacles or contact lenses.

With this technology not only can we correct for most short-sighted prescriptions but also in some cases reading prescriptions as well. Please ask your optometrist about your suitability.

 

So How Does This Work?

We start by taking a topographical map of the front surface of your eye.  This enables us to see the steep and flat parts of the front surface of your eye (Cornea).

 

We then go on to make an individually tailored contact lens to perfectly fit this front surface. Now for the magic, this lens when fitted gently alters the corneal surface to reduce the refractive power of the eye (i.e. your prescription).                    

The lens is then worn overnight (as you sleep) and gently shapes the cornea over the next few hours. On waking, the lens is removed and the cornea maintains the designed shape to help eliminate your prescription. This means the images now focus on the back of the retina naturally without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

You then spend the daytime contact lens or spectacle free!!      

             

Throughout the next 24- 48 hours the cornea slowly moves back to its original shape, which means this process, unlike refractive surgery, is completely reversible. So all you have to do is wear the lens each night and enjoy clear spectacle free vision throughout the day.

 

Myopia-Control in Children

Could something be done to help slow down the progression of short-sightedness in children? 

The Answer is YES!

Approximately half of young adults in Europe and The USA are short sighted (myopic). Compared with the 1960’s this number has more than doubled. Whilst it is true that you are most likely to become short-sighted if your parents are short-sighted, short sightedness (myopia) is increasing worldwide at a rate that cannot be explained by genetics alone.

Increasing levels of short sightedness are inconvenient as they need correcting with spectacles or contact lenses, however short sighted eyes are also more at risk of developing some serious eye conditions. For example, people with high myopia are around 2.5x more likely to develop primary open-angle glaucoma.

New studies have shown that even with low levels of myopia, the apparent risk of pathology such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment in later life is significant and can be comparable to a stroke risk from smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day.

The aim of myopia control is to slow down or stop the progression of short sightedness. Research has revealed that the light reaching the periphery of the retina at the back of eye is responsible for eye growth.

Orthokeratology lenses are worn at night to gently reshape the front of the eye, thereby providing clear, natural vision in the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. The gentle reshaping of the front of the eye also refocuses the light reaching the peripheral retina in order to help slow myopia progression.

The benefit being that this could slow down or even prevent your child from becoming more short sighted.