The World Health Organization recognizes myopia (nearsightedness) as one of the five leading causes of blindness. Notably, the increase in options to slow down myopia corresponds to a decrease in other eye-related health risks. These eye-related health risks include glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration.

What Is Ortho-k?

Ortho-k is short for orthokeratology. It is a corneal reshaping therapy. It gently reshapes the cornea as you sleep. The effects of the ortho-k lenses help users enjoy clear vision during the day.

Hyperopic Defocus

Hyperopic defocus happens with wearers of regular eyeglasses and contact lenses. It presents a blur on the peripheral part of the eye, causing peripheral light rays to focus beyond the plane of the retina.

Regular eyeglasses and contacts have a clear central straight-ahead vision. However, peripheral light does not focus uniformly. The defocus causes the child’s eye to progressively grow longer. This process of axial elongation makes the child more myopic. It also increases health risks.

How Ortho-k Works

Ortho-k lenses are rigid gas permeable lenses. They allow oxygen to circulate on your eye as you sleep. They are thus safe and comfortable to wear.

For the best results, the lenses are custom fit to an individual. The eye doctor takes measurements of your cornea. They then make lenses set to the unique shape of your eye. Just before going to sleep, you wear the lenses. As you sleep, they gently reshape the cornea.

The wearer then removes them when they wake up. They are then able to enjoy clear vision during the day. There is no need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. Your eyes will see clearly on their own.

Effectiveness in Children

Myopia is becoming more prevalent in children. A child whose parents are both myopic is highly likely to develop myopia. Ortho-k is effective in children as it not only corrects nearsightedness but also prevents its progression.

Ortho-k lenses create a circular multifocal shape effect on the cornea. They do this by flattening the cornea and restoring vision. Redistribution of cells causes the peripheral part of the cornea to become thicker.

It bends light and refocuses peripheral light rays back to the surface of the retina. When the light rays refocus, hyperopic defocus and peripheral blur decreases. It also slows down axial elongation.

Reasons to Pick Ortho-k

Ortho-k in children prevents them from developing worse eye-related health risks. These health risks include glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration. That is why you need to take your children for regular eye checkups. It is non-invasive and therefore safe and suitable for all ages.

It saves parents the cost of replacing eyeglasses and contact lenses. The risks of loss or damage are higher for parents with children who play sports. Because they wear ortho-k lenses in bed, they are harder to lose.

Finally, these lenses give your child self-confidence. Most children do not like wearing eyeglasses. Contact lenses can also be burdensome for them. However, they wear and leave these lenses at home.

For more on ortho-k and myopia in children, visit Look! Optometry at our office in Manhattan Beach, California. You can call (310) 796-5665 to schedule an appointment today.