Orthokeratology
Correct your vision while you sleep - an alternative to LASIK
Orthokeratology is the process of reshaping the front of your eyes while you sleep by using gas permeable contact lenses. After removing the lenses in the morning, you will be able to see clearly for the rest of the day without glasses or contact lenses. This technology is safe and effective. To see if you are suitable for Orthokeratology, make an appointment today.
Orthokeratology (also known as Ortho K) is a safe and effective method of correcting your vision while you sleep using contact lenses.
Orthokeratology works by gently reshaping the very top layer of the eye while you sleep. This in turn changes the curve of the eye to produce the correct power. Orthokeratology lenses are gas permeable, which allow adequate oxygen to reach the eye while you sleep. Orthokeratology is principally designed for short sighted people (people who need glasses or contact lenses for the distance). The process is very useful for patients who want to be free from glasses or contact lenses during the day, those who find traditional contact lenses uncomfortable to wear and those who want clear vision without the need for laser eye surgery.
At around 20% the cost of laser eye surgery, orthokeratology is an excellent and more cost effective alternative. The process is reversible, and each set of lenses will usually last many years. Orthokeratology has the added benefit of reducing the rate of myopic progression (ie. slows your eyes from getting worse) as reported in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.(Corneal reshaping and myopia progression. Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:1181-1185)
The process is FDA approved (referred to as "corneal refractive therapy") and is supported in scientific literature.
Orthokeratology FAQs
Which powers can be corrected with orthokeratology? +
Generally orthokeratology is most suited to patients who have prescriptions between +3.00 and -6.00 with astigmatism (cylinder) of up to -3.00. There are some occasions where orthokeratology will work for prescriptions outside of these ranges however the success of this will vary depending on the curvature of your corneas.
Do I have to sleep in the lenses every night for orthokeratology to work? +
Most patients sleep in the lenses every night to ensure full correction takes place.
Does the effect wear off during the day? +
The power correction does wear off slightly as the day goes on (referred to as regression) however when we calculate the lens powers we apply a very slight over-correction so that the vision is still clear at the end of the day even after slight regression.
I have heard that orthokeratology stops your eyes from getting worse, is this true? +
Orthokeratology does not stop your short-sightedness getting worse completely, but is recognised as one of the most effective ways of slowing down the progression of myopia (short sightedness). Orthokeratology is being used globally as a way of decreasing the rate of short-sightedness in both children and adults. A meta-analysis of multiple studies confirming orthokeratology’s ability to slow the progression of myopia can be found here.
Do all optometrists fit orthokeratology lenses? +
No. Orthokeratology should only be performed by an optometrist with specific training and a corneal topographer (scanner).
How much does orthokeratology cost? +
The cost varies depending on the type of lens needed for your prescription. As a general guide, orthokeratology usually costs between $1500-$2000 for the two eyes which is around 20% of the cost of laser eye surgery. An individual quote will be given at your initial appointment.