Ortho-K Contact Lenses

Ortho-K for Myopia Correction

Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K, is a vision correction therapy for myopia correction, which is now available at Ashleigh Sight Care.

Gas permeable contact lenses with reverse-curve-technology are worn overnight to correct existing myopia and upon awakening, these are removed. Vision will be clear without the need for spectacles or contact lenses during the day.

How does wearing contact lenses overnight work?

Custom made Ortho-K contact lenses are rigid gas permeable lenses that gently reshape and flatten the front of your eyes to allow the light to focus perfectly on the back of the eye. In the morning the slight change in the shape of your eyes will give crisp and clear vision over the course of the day and into the next without lens correction. Research studies have shown that myopia progression can be slowed down by using this technology from a young age, which is why it is widely used in young children from an early age, all the way into middle age, being most effective between 7-40 years old.

At Ashleigh Sight Care we use the EyeDream Ortho-K technology manufactured by the Nr7 Contact Lens Laboratory. It is a safe, effective and life-changing way to manage myopia for many, especially growing children, who are showing signs of rapidly increasing myopia and are finding the use of spectacles intolerable.

Is Ortho-K right for me?

At Ashleigh Sight Care, we recommend fitting Ortho-K lenses from a young age (around 7-8 years old) in the hope to reduce myopia progression through the growing teenage years. Good results can be achieved for relatively small amounts of myopia (1.0 – 6.0 dioptres) with no more than 2.0 dioptres of astigmatism. It is also possible to fit more mature patients with this mode of contact lens wear, just to be free of spectacles or contact lenses during the day. Often reading spectacles will need to be used to help with the lack of focus at near in those age groups.

Ortho-K is ideal for people who:

Want clear natural vision all day.
Find that soft contact lenses aren’t comfortable or are concerned about their cleanliness.
Are involved in sport, games, water sports and other recreational and outdoor activities where glasses are not ideal or inconvenient.
Have considered corneal laser surgery but are concerned about the results, risks and the irreversible nature of surgery.
Are concerned about the spiral of increasing myopia for themselves or their children.

Concerned about increasing myopia in children?

Is my child at risk? A free web questionnaire is available at myopiacare.org which uses family and personal information to assess the risk of myopia increasing in you or your child.

At Ashleigh Sight Care, Dr. Claudia Ashleigh exclusively fits our Ortho-K patients:

Dr Claudia Ashleigh is an expert in contact lenses and has a PhD that was gained in the fitting and management of contact lenses in 2017. She has fitted all types of contact lenses (single vison, torics and multifocal soft and rigid gas permeable) over her 35 years in optics. Ortho-K technology lenses are exclusively fitted at our Southampton branch, as special equipment is necessary to map the corneal surface.

Numerous studies have indicated that Ortho-K therapy can slow the progression of short-sightedness in children, subsequently reducing the risk of developing associated problems in adulthood. (Clin Exp Optom 2017; 100: 432–437, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, October 2012, Vol. 53, No. 11)

Ortho-K therapy brings hope for parents, creating a realistic opportunity to delay or slow down myopia in their children, along with the commensurate eye health risks. Improvements vary for each child, but the treatment has never been known to exacerbate myopia, making it one of the safer options to manage increasing myopia.

Inquire at any of our practices for more information and if you are a suitable candidate!