Orthokeratology

[the_lone_wolf]

Hi all,

As a long time wearer of glasses who doesn't want to have laser surgery I'm curious about Ortho-K, I'm short sighted (-2.25 in both eyes)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthokeratology

Short version: You wear hard contact lenses at night that temporarily reshape the lens of the eye so that during the day you don't need glasses

Anybody actually doing it? My local independant runs a program whereby you pay monthly for the lenses and associated care, for about the cost of a mobile phone contract

I'm tempted...

[968]

the_lone_wolf said:

Hi all,

As a long time wearer of glasses who doesn't want to have laser surgery I'm curious about Ortho-K, I'm short sighted (-2.25 in both eyes)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthokeratology

Short version: You wear hard contact lenses at night that temporarily reshape the lens of the eye so that during the day you don't need glasses

Anybody actually doing it? My local independant runs a program whereby you pay monthly for the lenses and associated care, for about the cost of a mobile phone contract

I'm tempted...

In theory the cornea is reshaped, not the lens. However, I would urge caution and make sure you find out what the risks are of wearing these lenses for an extended period. Extended wear lenses are associated with a much higher risk of sight threatening infection occurring ordinary lenses and I would imagine wearing these lenses overnight when the cornea is relatively compromised in terms of the amount of oxygen getting to it is probably not a great idea.

[sawman]

I was reading up about this last week, one of my neighbours is about to put her 8 year old through it! from what I read, I didn't think the research was terribly compelling.

[968]

sawman said:

I was reading up about this last week, one of my neighbours is about to put her 8 year old through it! from what I read, I didn't think the research was terribly compelling.

An 8 year old is far too young for this approach. The shape of the cornea and indeed the childs refraction will change significantly until he becomes an adult so I would think that this will not be helpful, indeed quite risky in terms of inducing corneal damage.

[sawman]

968 said:

An 8 year old is far too young for this approach. The shape of the cornea and indeed the childs refraction will change significantly until he becomes an adult so I would think that this will not be helpful, indeed quite risky in terms of inducing corneal damage.

Cheers, I was pretty sceptical about the idea generally and particularly in children, in fact kids and contact lenses always seems a bit odd to me, I can still remember the traumas of my first contact lens use as a 25 year old!

[DKL]

http://www.bcla.org.uk/en/consumers/consumer-guide...

OrthoK is not a very well known procedure here in the uk but far more popular in the US.
It isn't going to be available on every high st but there are enough people around experienced in it that you shouldn't have to go too far.
Worth investigating as its a valid alternative to contact lenses or laser.
The issue of sleeping in high DK (permeability) lenses is one to be considered but will be well covered by whoever you see for an appointment.

8 yrs old is far too young for this sort of thing but children are surprisingly dexterous and can make excellent cl patients. Usually only goes wrong when the parents get involved!