Why Should I Consider Ortho-K?
October 13, 2021
Ortho-K, or Orthokeratology, is a new option for correcting vision that is rapidly gaining in popularity. As opposed to options for vision correction such as LASIK, Ortho-K is a way to resolve the need for glasses or contact lenses without the need for surgery. Many parents are also choosing Ortho-K because it is safe for both children and adults. So why might someone choose to use Ortho-K?
What is Ortho-K?
Ortho-K is a way to improve nearsightedness by wearing a special contact lens that gradually reshapes the surface of the eye, similar to the way braces straighten teeth. Patients usually will wear the contact lens at night while they sleep and take it out during the day. It is normal to see startling vision correction within two weeks of starting Ortho-K.
Why Do I Have Vision Problems?
Common vision problems such as nearsightedness happen because the eye has difficulty turning light into images. Just like a camera, the eye has a lens at the front which helps focus light onto the surface at the back that processes the light into images.
If the shape of the eye is such that the light is focused at the wrong place (for example, if it is shaped more like a football than a basketball), then the images will be blurry. Traditional glasses and contact lenses work by adding a lens in front of the eye that helps focus the light onto the correct spot. What Ortho-K does is correct the shape of the front of the eye.
Benefits of Ortho-K
- No surgery needed
- Painless
- Removes dependency on glasses
- Option for children
- Very few complications
Ortho-K in Arlington, VA
To learn more about Ortho-K and its potentially life-changing benefits for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Anh Nguyen today. As an experienced and award-winning ophthalmologist, Dr. Nguyen can help you achieve clear vision with or without the need for laser eye surgery. Call our office or contact us online today to get started with your personal vision correction treatment.
Sources
Mukamal, R. (2018, October 24). What is Orthokeratology? American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/what-is-orthokeratology.
7 things About Ortho-K lenses and Corneal Reshaping you didn’t know. Weston Contact Lens Institute. (2021, July 2). Retrieved September 9, 2021, from https://www.westoncontactlens.com/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-corneal-reshaping-and-ortho-k-lenses/.
