Orthokeratology – A guide for parents

As parents, ensuring your child’s health and well-being is a top priority. When it comes to vision, you may have heard about Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, a non-surgical method to improve eyesight. In this article, the team at Ian Donald Optometrist explores what ortho-k is, how it works, and what you should consider if you’re thinking about this option for your child.

Orthokeratology involves the use of specially designed contact lenses that reshape the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, to improve vision. Think of it as braces for the eyes. The lenses are typically worn overnight, allowing your child to have clear vision during the day without needing glasses or regular contact lenses.

Ortho-K is primarily used to correct myopia (nearsightedness), a common vision issue in which distant objects appear blurry. While glasses, contact lenses, and surgical options like LASIK can also correct myopia, ortho-k offers a non-surgical alternative, especially beneficial for children and young adults whose vision may still be changing. LASIK and other surgical options are not recommended until vision stabilises, usually in the mid-20s.

For children, Ortho-K provides an alternative to glasses and may also potentially slow the progression of myopia, though research on this is still ongoing.

The cornea plays a crucial role in focusing light onto the retina. By reshaping the cornea, Ortho-K lenses adjust how light enters the eye, improving vision. Your optometrist will create a detailed map of your child’s cornea using a device called a corneal topographer. This painless, non-invasive process helps design lenses tailored to your child’s eye shape. The rigid, gas-permeable Ortho-K lenses are worn overnight. They flatten the centre of the cornea, changing how light is bent when it enters the eye. In the morning, the lenses are removed, and the cornea retains its new shape throughout the day, providing clear vision without the need for glasses or regular contact lenses.

To maintain the corrected vision, the lenses must be worn regularly at night. If your child stops wearing them, their eyes will revert to their original shape, and myopia will return.

Achieving the desired vision correction with Ortho-K can take a couple of weeks or more, although some children notice significant improvements within days. Initially, your child may need to wear several sets of lenses to gradually reach the best vision correction. Once stabilised, a retainer lens will be worn nightly to maintain the results. While Ortho-K is generally safe, it does carry a risk of eye infections, particularly microbial keratitis, which can lead to serious complications. Children and adolescents might find it challenging to maintain the necessary hygiene standards for safe contact lens use.

Regular check-ups with your optometrist are essential to ensure your child’s eyes remain healthy and the lenses fit correctly. Despite these risks, with proper care and regular monitoring, ortho-k can be a safe and effective method for managing myopia.

Orthokeratology offers a unique, non-surgical solution to vision correction, especially beneficial for children and young adults. If you’re considering Ortho-K for your child, consult with an optometrist to thoroughly understand the benefits, risks, and commitment required. With the right care, ortho-k can provide clear, glasses-free vision and potentially slow the progression of myopia, contributing positively to your child’s overall eye health.

When you are considering Ortho-K for your child, speak to our professional optometrists. We specialise in Ortho-K treatment for children and offer qualified and experienced advice for the health of your family’s eyes.