How safe is Ortho-K?
Ortho-K has been prescribed by contact lens specialists for decades and many thousands of people have been successfully treated. However, it is only in the past few years that the advanced Ortho-K design has enabled a new level of accuracy to be achieved. The safety and effectiveness of Ortho-K has been demonstrated in independent studies at universities in New Zealand, Australia and the United States and has been approved by the FDA.
Ortho-K lenses are made from a material that is extremely permeable to oxygen, but as with all contact lenses, regular check-ups and lens replacement as recommended by Visique on High Street Optometrists are very important.
Ortho-K is not for everyone. You must have a healthy cornea that is free of any conditions that could affect the performance and safety of Ortho-K. The same corneal-health criteria that hold true for any of the refractive-error surgery corrections like LASIK, also apply to Ortho-K.
Visique on High Street Optometrists are accredited specialists in Ortho-K. Make a booking now to find out how you can sleep your way to great vision!
myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia?
What are the advantages of Ortho-K?
- 20/20 vision without spectacles or contact lenses during the day.
- It is a non-surgical procedure.
- It is reversible, modifiable and does not hurt.
- It will stop the progression of myopia.
- Using a well-established contact lens fitting technique and follow up care means that there are very few risks and no more than normal contact lens wear.
- The Ortho-K Contact Lenses are surprisingly comfortable to wear. Most people comment that they forget they have lenses in their eyes after the first night of sleeping with the lenses.
How does it compare to Laser Eye Surgery or LASIK?
Ortho-K is similar to laser eye surgery or LASIK but unlike laser eye surgery, the change induced is temporary, reversible and non-surgical and the effect is dependent on overnight lens wear. Unlike LASIK, Ortho-K does not involve permanently removing cells or tissue, but rather reshaping cells temporarily. The most up-to-date information on potential issues with LASIK can be found on the Lasik Complications website.
There is no post-operative recovery or discomfort or any of the risks of possible permanent side effects that can come with laser eye surgery such as reduced vision, dry eyes, glare issues, light sensitivity or night vision difficulty. Being reversible, it does not limit the option of considering laser eye surgery later in life should that be desired.
Changes in prescription over time can be easily dealt with; no further surgery or enhancement procedures are needed.
Most surgeons will not treat a client until they are at least 18 years old but Ortho-K is FDA approved for children.
And finally, at less than 1/3 of the cost of laser eye surgery, Ortho-K is very affordable.
Ortho-K Videos
We’ve gathered together a selection of videos about Ortho-K, many of which will be helpful especially if you’re currently an Ortho-K user.
You can find them right here.