Ortho-K

Ortho-Keratology (Ortho-K): A Smarter Approach to Myopia Control

Ortho-K is an FDA-approved, non-surgical treatment designed to slow the progression of myopia in children. By gently reshaping the cornea over time, it reduces the risk of the retinal tears and detachments that are commonly associated with high myopia, making it a meaningful long-term investment in your child's eye health.

The treatment works through custom-designed, hard gas-permeable contact lenses worn overnight while your child sleeps. By morning, the lenses are removed, and your child enjoys clear vision throughout the day with no glasses and no daytime contacts. Think of it like Invisalign, but for the eyes.

What many parents don't realize is that regular eyeglasses are no longer considered the standard of care for myopia. In fact, conventional glasses can contribute to its progression. While they focus light correctly at the center of the eye, light entering at the periphery is overpowered, which signals the eye to grow longer and vision to worsen over time.

Ortho-K interrupts that cycle. By correcting how light falls across the entire eye, it addresses the root cause of myopia progression, helping to keep your child's vision sharper and their eyes healthier for years to come.

Who Should Consider Ortho-K?

• Children and teens with myopia, especially those whose prescription is still changing or worsening each year

• Kids who are active in sports and find glasses or soft contacts inconvenient

• Patients who are not yet old enough for LASIK or other refractive surgery

• Anyone looking for a non-surgical, reversible alternative to slow myopia progression

• Parents who want to reduce their child's long-term risk of serious eye conditions like retinal detachment or glaucoma associated with high myopia
  
  

How Long Does It Take?

Most patients notice a significant improvement in their vision within the first few days of wearing Ortho-K lenses. However, it typically takes two to four weeks of consistent nightly wear to achieve the full effect and enjoy stable, clear vision throughout the entire day.

​​​​​​​Results can vary depending on the degree of myopia, as patients with a higher prescription may take a little longer to reach their optimal correction.

Once the desired result is achieved, your child simply continues wearing the lenses each night to maintain it. If treatment is ever stopped, the cornea gradually returns to its original shape, making Ortho-K a fully reversible option.