Foto de Ketut Subiyanto en Pexels
Orto – k: night lenses to see well during the day
Many people want to undergo refractive surgery and do not do it because they are not suitable for the intervention, or because they do not dare out of fear. Orthokeratology (also known as ortho-k) is a very interesting technique for this type of people/patients. Seeing well during the day without wearing glasses or contact lenses is now possible thanks to ortho-k.
See well during the day without wearing glasses or contact lenses
Orthokeratology is a technique/treatment that involves wearing specially designed contact lenses while sleeping. Ortho-k lenses shape the cornea during the night in such a way that they reduce diopters, achieving that, when removing the lenses in the morning, the user has good vision throughout the day without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
This makes ortho-k lenses the best option, in addition to those who do not want or cannot have surgery, for those who do not tolerate contact lenses during the day, for those who work long hours in front of the computer, in places with unfavorable environmental conditions such as air conditioning or heating, for those who work in a dusty environment, or also for those athletes to whom wearing glasses or contact lenses represents a risk.
Unlike refractive surgery, ortho-k is a reversible treatment. This means that when you stop sleeping with them, the cornea regains its shape and the diopters come out again. The limitations of orthokeratology, in terms of the number of diopters to correct, will depend on the corneal morphology of each patient. In general terms, we can say that ortho-k can easily treat up to 5 diopters of myopia (although if the patient’s characteristics allow it, it can be corrected up to 7 or 8 diopters), up to 4 diopters of hyperopia, and in cases of astigmatism up to 4 diopters.
Wearing ortho-k lenses is totally safe, its contraindications are the same as those that conventional contact lenses can have, it is only necessary to follow the care and hygiene indications that the health professional indicates.
Foto de Emily Rose en Pexels
It is not an innovative treatment since it is a technique that was born in the 60s. From the 90s to the present, thanks to the new materials that have been developed more and more permeable to oxygen, ortho-k has become a safe technique that little by little has been gaining popularity.
Ortho-k and myopia control
In addition to all the aforementioned, one of the great advantages that ortho-k offers is the control of myopia in children and adolescents. Numerous scientific studies have shown that ortho-k is one of the few methods that slows myopic progression. It is also very practical for children to enjoy without the inconvenience of glasses or contact lenses for daily use.
An eye professional such as your optician-optometrist will determine after an exhaustive study of corneal morphology and your ocular health if you can benefit from the advantages that ortho-k offers.
Bibliography
- Fitcroft D. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res 2012; 31:622-60.
- Huang J, Wen D Et al. Efficacy comparison of 16 interventions for myopia control in children: a network meta-analysis. Ophthalmology 2016, 123: 697-708).
- Tideman J et al. Association of Axial Length With Risk of Uncorrectable Visual Impairment for Europeans With Myopia. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016 Ec 1;134(12): 1355-1363.
- Liu Y.M. and Xie P. The safety of orthokeratology – A systematic review. Eye Contact Lens, 2016; vol. 42, no1: 35-42