As the corneal reshaping effect is temporary, the risks involved are very slight. Additionally, you can stop wearing the lenses at any time, as long as you are prepared to wear glasses or contact lenses again when your myopia returns!
Children and young adults who do not want to wear glasses but are too young for LASIK or are not good candidates for refractive surgery for other reasons ( dry eye , for example) are often good candidates for ortho-k. People who play contact sports or work in dusty environments that may cause problems wearing contact lenses may also be good candidates.
Who fits ortho-k lenses?
It is important to know that orthokeratology is a very specialized type of contact lens fitting, and not all opticians who do contact lens fitting can also do ortho lens fitting. k. If you are interested in orthokeratology, contact an optician who specializes in fitting these lenses.
What results should be obtained with ortho-k?
Opticians generally aim for 20/20 vision (6/6 in the UK) after ortho-k, but 20/40 vision, the legal minimum for driving in most of the United States, is often considered being an acceptable result.
In an FDA clinical study to approve Paragon CRT lenses, 93% of patients achieved 20/32 or better vision, while 67% of patients achieved 20/20 or better vision. In an FDA clinical study to approve a vision shaping treatment model, approximately 95% of patients achieved 20/40 or better vision, while 73% of patients achieved 20/40 vision. 20 or higher. Each study followed patients for at least nine months.
What to expect when starting to use ortho-k
This painless procedure lasts about one minute and produces a topographical map of the surface of your eye.
Your optician can use lenses from their office to perform the ortho-k lens fitting on your eyes on the same day as the corneal topography or order custom ortho-k lenses to perform the fitting later.
You may need to use different temporary lenses to see correctly until you reach the desired prescription. In most cases, up to three pairs of lenses may be required to maximize the vision correction effect.
When you first start wearing ortho-k lenses, it is likely that you will feel the lenses on your eyes until you fall asleep. Over time, lenses usually become more comfortable immediately after insertion.
How long should you wait to feel the maximum effect of ortho-k?
This depends on many factors, most importantly how much myopia (and possibly astigmatism) you have before you begin the ortho-k process.
Some people may have excellent vision after one or two nights of using ortho-k. However, for larger prescriptions, you may have to wait two weeks or more for maximum correction.
Until your eyes are fully corrected, you may notice blurred vision, glare, and halos around lights. In some cases, it may be necessary to wear glasses with a lower prescription than you originally had during the ortho-k process. Additionally, in some cases, glare and mild halos may persist despite maximum correction with ortho-k lenses.
How much do ortho-k lenses cost?
Fitting ortho-k lenses is a more time-consuming process requiring more expertise than fitting regular contact lenses. This process requires different office visits and potentially multiple pairs of lenses.
Each optician determines their fees for orthokeratology, based in part on their level of expertise, the time required and the cost of the lenses.
The cost of Ortho-K lenses, including follow-up care associated with lens fitting, can vary widely depending on the type and degree of your refractive error and whether you choose Ortho-K lenses to control nearsightedness. long term in addition to the temporary correction of existing myopia.
Fees may also vary depending on your region, whether rural or urban, and the type of office where the surgery is performed.
Ortho-k lens prices in the UK usually range between £700 and £1,500 for both eyes. This surgery is therefore approximately half as expensive as LASIK. However, particularly difficult ortho-k lens cases can result in costs of up to £3,000.
There are other costs associated with ortho-k lens replacement, lens care solutions and follow-up exams, which can amount to around £200 to £400 per year in total.
Normally, orthokeratology is not fully covered by eye care insurance plans, but a portion of the costs may be reimbursed by some plans.
Bonus Q&A: Can I have LASIK treatment after ortho-k?
Yes, it is possible to have LASIK treatment after ortho-k if you later wish to undergo eye surgery to permanently correct your vision.
Unlike LASIK, ortho-k is reversible. If you try reshaping lenses, you may decide later that you prefer to have laser eye surgery.