Things to know about Ortho-K lenses

Ortho-K

Ortho-K lenses, also known as gas-permeable lenses, are specialized lenses made to reshape the cornea. The patient doesn’t need to wear glasses or daytime contacts because they can have clear vision all day long after taking the lenses out in the morning. Astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia are just a few of the eye issues that Ortho-K lenses can help with. Here are seven facts concerning Ortho-K lenses and corneal reshaping that you might need to be aware of.

Myopia is now more common than ever

With over a billion individuals suffering from the illness, myopia is a severe global health concern. By 2050, that number is projected to rise to around 5 billion due to aging populations, outdoor activity decline, and screen usage. For more than 20 years, Ortho-K lenses have been among the most successful therapies. This sort of treatment will grow in popularity and significance for people worldwide as myopia grows even more prevalent. Ortho keratology is becoming more significant due to this global epidemic, not only for correcting myopia but also for halting its growth.

The results may persist for more than a day

For maximum outcomes, patients must wear their lenses every night. However, the effects frequently persist for more than one day. In fact, after wearing Ortho-K lenses for one night, it’s typical for people to benefit from the corrected vision for up to two whole days. The lenses can be worn throughout the day, but because they actively alter the cornea, they are more pleasant at night. Wearing the lenses every night at first, whereas the reshaping happens, is typically more crucial. You can wear them more frequently as your treatment develops.

There is no pain

Although corneal reshaping might seem unpleasant, it is not. This is because “squishing” or squeezing did not produce the reshaping. Instead, hydraulic forces are responsible for it. The cornea changes shape due to the lens’ formation of a fluid vault over the eye, which causes some areas of the cornea to absorb more fluid than others, temporarily resolving curvature difficulties.

Children especially benefit from it

Almost everybody can benefit from ortho-K lenses, but kids make particularly strong candidates. This is because these young patients are not candidates for LASIK surgery. However, Ortho-K lenses frequently produce excellent outcomes in children who don’t want to wear glasses. We now understand that this therapy, emerging as the industry standard for myopia management, is one of the best ways to slow down children’s increasing myopia. Other suitable candidates include people with prescriptions that fall within a predetermined range and those who require vision correction without using corrective lenses, such as pilots, law enforcement officials, or athletes.

Fittings demand multiple visits

Correct fitting of Ortho-K lenses may need several trips to the Qualified optician optometrist. To obtain the ideal fit, fittings typically take many weeks and require using several different pairs of temporary lenses. This procedure guarantees a good fit and excellent outcomes.

Insurance policies exclude Ortho-K coverage

Most vision insurance plans do not cover Ortho-K lenses since they are seen as elective. The majority of patients discover that the outcomes of this treatment are well worth the cost, though. It’s simple to understand why so many individuals select Ortho-K lenses despite the out-of-pocket costs when considering what it would be like to have clear vision all day without glasses or contact lenses.