Orthokeratology: Save Your Child's Vision
What if you could wake up tomorrow morning with improved vision, able to see the sun shining on the grass of the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, or watch a show at the Ridgefield Playhouse; all without wearing glasses or contact lenses? A treatment called orthokeratology (often shortened to "retainer contacts", “Ortho-K”, "Corneal Refractive Therapy" or "CRT") may offer the promise of just such freedom.
Orthokeratology is the fitting of specially designed contact lenses that are worn when you sleep. Overnight, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of your eye (cornea). When you wake up in the morning and remove the lenses, you’ll be able to see more clearly, without the need for eyeglasses or regular contact lenses.
In addition to convenience and safety, orthokeratology is shown in peer reviewed studies to prevent the worsening of vision. By preventing blurry vision, orthokeratology can reduce the lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. This medical benefit of preventing nearsightedness is not something that is possible with conventional contact lenses or glasses.
Orthokeratology is the fitting of specially designed contact lenses that are worn when you sleep. Overnight, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of your eye (cornea). When you wake up in the morning and remove the lenses, you’ll be able to see more clearly, without the need for eyeglasses or regular contact lenses.
In addition to convenience and safety, orthokeratology is shown in peer reviewed studies to prevent the worsening of vision. By preventing blurry vision, orthokeratology can reduce the lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. This medical benefit of preventing nearsightedness is not something that is possible with conventional contact lenses or glasses.
Orthokeratology contact lenses are custom-made for each wearer, so fitting orthokeratology contacts demands greater expertise and more time than fitting standard soft or GP contact lenses. This also allows for a greater degree of accuracy and stability in vision.
To achieve such precision, computerized maps of the corneal curvature are generated to facilitate the lens fitting. Several trial lenses of different sizes and curvatures may be applied to the eye during the fitting process as the treatment is fine-tuned.
For these reasons, orthokeratology lenses can cost more than standard contacts. Most insurance programs do not cover the cost of orthokeratology contact lenses.
To achieve such precision, computerized maps of the corneal curvature are generated to facilitate the lens fitting. Several trial lenses of different sizes and curvatures may be applied to the eye during the fitting process as the treatment is fine-tuned.
For these reasons, orthokeratology lenses can cost more than standard contacts. Most insurance programs do not cover the cost of orthokeratology contact lenses.