Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, reshapes your corneas without surgery and typically results in normal vision without wearing eyeglasses or daytime contact lenses. Ortho-k uses special contact lenses worn when sleeping to reshape the eyes, like dental retainers or braces for teeth. If you live in or near Tomball or The Woodlands, TX, and are looking for an eye doctor, consider working with one of our optometrists at Today's Vision Creekside.
How Does Orthokeratology Work?
Our vision results from light passing through our corneas and lenses before landing on the retina at the back of the eyes. The cornea’s shape is the primary reason light lands on the retina correctly or is out of focus. Irregularities in the cornea's shape cause nearsightedness, farsightedness, and other refractive errors.
Eyeglasses and contact lenses fix the problem by reshaping the light entering the eyes and combining it with the misshapen cornea so the light lands correctly on the cornea. An alternate approach is to wear specialty contact lenses while sleeping to reshape the cornea so light lands on the retina correctly. The combination means Ortho-k patients do not need corrective lenses during waking hours. Since Ortho-k results are temporary, wearers must use contact lenses nightly or nearly to maintain the cornea's corrected shape.
Will Orthokeratology Work for Me?
Ortho-k is a common treatment for nearsightedness and is an alternative to wearing corrective lenses or having eye surgery. It is also used for other refractive errors, not including keratoconus, so if you are nearsighted, Ortho-k may be an alternative to discuss with your eye doctor. Also, some insurance providers consider Ortho-k an elective, so their policyholders pay for all or most of the treatment.
Using Ortho-K Lenses
During your contact lens exam, your optometrist may use a device called a corneal topographer to map your corneas using light reflected off your eyes. The detailed mapping results serve as input into manufacturing the custom lenses that reshape your corneas over several weeks. Once your corneas reach the target shape, patients wear maintenance Ortho-k lenses nightly or as their eye doctor prescribes.
Get Ortho-K Lenses at Today's Vision Creekside
If you want to enjoy the benefits of orthokeratology or have other eye care needs, contact Today's Vision Creekside, serving the Tomball and The Woodlands, TX, area. To start the process of obtaining Ortho-k lenses, schedule an eye exam by calling (346) 808-7342 or using our online form.