All You Need to Know About Ortho-k
Orthokeratology is a revolutionary system of vision correction that involves wearing rigid gas permeable lenses only while you sleep. This therapy has a number of names: Corneal Reshaping Therapy (CRT), Vision Shaping Therapy (VST), Gentle Shaping Vision System (GVSS), and Corneal Molding (CM), but no matter how you call it – the method is almost the same.
The Ortho-K Process
While you snooze, these specialized, FDA-approved ortho-k lenses gently remold your cornea, correcting the elongation that causes myopia (nearsightedness). When you wake up and remove these lenses, you will see the world with sharp vision – with no need to put on glasses or wear daytime contact lenses. The results are temporary, lasting only a few days. That’s why you need to wear ortho-k lenses nightly to maintain crisp eyesight.
For children, orthokeratology can also slow or stop the progression of myopia. This type of myopia control both protects your child’s future eye health and eliminates the need to wear glasses in the present. Our eye doctors at Rye Eye Care are experienced and skilled in orthokeratology and myopia control. We invite you to book an appointment in our Westchester County eye care center to discuss you or your child’s candidacy for ortho-k lenses.
Is Ortho-k for Everyone?
Orthokeratology is best suited for people with myopia (nearsightedness) and for some patients with astigmatism. In general, ortho-k will excite anyone who wants to enjoy crisp vision without the inconvenience of daytime eyewear.
In particular, if you cannot wear soft contacts due to dry eye, allergies, or another eye condition, orthokeratology may be your ideal solution. Also, if you are not a good candidate for LASIK, ortho-k offers a safe, reversible, and non-surgical alternative for vision correction.
Orthokeratology is highly appropriate for people with the following occupations:
- Pilots
- Construction workers
- Athletes
- Long-distance drivers
- Law Enforcement
- Pilots
How Does Myopia Control with Ortho-k Work?
At our Westchester County Myopia Control Center, we take the risks of high myopia very seriously. Extreme nearsightedness in childhood threatens long-lasting eye health; high myopia increases the child’s risk of cataracts, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. The more advanced the myopia progression, the higher the chances of getting these ocular complications.
Our optometry practice recommends orthokeratology for myopia control, especially if your child’s vision prescription increases regularly. In general, any nearsighted child with healthy eyes can be a potential candidate for ortho-k lenses. After we perform an eye exam to evaluate your child’s vision and ocular condition, we will discuss this therapy with you. Together, we will develop the best treatment plan to match your child’s visual and lifestyle needs.
Contact our office to book a consultation for ortho-k. Located in Rye, NY, we serve patients from all over Westchester County.