Our West Hartford practice provides Orthokeratology.
Orthokeratology, commonly called Ortho-K, is a method used to correct myopia (nearsightedness) by wearing rigid gas-permeable contact lenses overnight so that no vision correction is needed during daytime hours.
Gas permeable (GP) lenses specialized for ortho-k are inserted at bedtime and worn as you sleep. Throughout the night, the lenses reshape your cornea gently so that your vision becomes clear the following morning. The correction is temporary, and ideally, no eyeglasses or contact lenses will be needed the next day or two.
To maintain sharp visual acuity daily, you need to wear the ortho-k reshaping lenses every night.
Request an AppointmentHow Ortho-K Works
Orthokeratology requires you to wear rigid gas-permeable contact lenses when you sleep. The lenses reshape your corneas overnight so you can take them out in the morning and have improved vision. The cornea is the transparent lens over your eye. The cornea not only protects your eye but also bends light so that your eye can focus images in front of it, hence its importance to your vision. You need to wear the overnight contact lenses each night to see an improvement the following day.
Candidates for Ortho-K
Ortho-K contact lenses are very suitable for nearsighted people who are not appropriate candidates for eye correction surgery, such as children. Individuals of all ages with healthy eyes can try orthokeratology, namely because it can be discontinued at any point without permanent effects to the eyes.
Vision Results from Ortho-K
Success rates for Ortho-K are generally higher for more mild vision prescriptions. The ideal goal is to provide 20/20 vision without any need for eyeglasses or contacts during the day. Our West Hartford office will be able to determine if your vision prescription is within range for successful Orthokeratology treatment.
Note that although improvement in vision is generally reported within a day or two of wearing Ortho-K overnight, the full effects may not be experienced until the lenses are worn for a few weeks. During this transition period, your vision will probably not be as crisp as it was with regular contacts or eyeglasses, and glare or halos around lights may be visible. Until Ortho-K works fully, a temporary pair of eyeglasses may be required for specific actions, such as driving at night.
How Does Ortho-K Feel?
Although some people have trouble wearing regular gas-permeable contact lenses during the day, Ortho-K lenses are worn while sleeping, so discomfort and awareness of the lenses in your eyes are generally not an issue.
Benefits of Ortho-K
Ortho-K offers many benefits, especially for those who are not suitable for LASIK or other eye surgeries.
Ortho-K allows you to avoid potential complications of surgery.
This treatment is also reversible, which means you can stop wearing the overnight contact lenses and your cornea will revert to the shape it was. You can wear your contact lenses or your glasses if you no longer want to continue with the treatment, giving you power over your eye correction.
Am I Candidate?
Possibly! There are so many factors to consider when evaluating a candidate, that we don’t know this until you come in for a consultation. We would ask you to have your Optometrist/Ophthalmologist forward your (or your child’s) records to us before your consult so that we can review all the information that is relevant to your situation.
At this time we would not undertake any prescriptions over -10.00 or people with astigmatism over -3.00.
What should I expect at any consultative visit?
Our Optometrists will do a full comprehensive eye exam, and will also take some additional measurements of your eyes. During the exam, you should expect to discuss the process for Otho-K and get the answers to any of your questions.
How long does it take?
This varies significantly by each individual, based on several factors. A brief list includes patients’ prescription, their corneal topography, their intraocular pressure, and their corneal thickness. Most prescriptions under -3.50 will see fairly well within the first week.
What are the potential complications with Ortho-K?
The complication rates in Ortho-K are lower than the complication rates of daily contact lenses. Possible complications include infection, inflammation, and abrasions, but occur at less than 5% rates.
Is it permanent?
No. The prescriptive change that occurs with Ortho-K lasts as long as you continue to wear the Ortho-K lenses at night. When you sleep without wearing the Ortho-K overnight contact lenses, your vision begins to quickly return to its original prescription.
What happens if I decide to stop doing Ortho-K?
Nothing! Really! Your eyes will revert and you can go back to wearing glasses or contact lenses. There are no permanent changes that occur to your eyes.
What are the fees? Is there any warranty? Is there a Guarantee?
The minimum cost for the procedure will be $2500, but more difficult cases will cost more, and this fee will be discussed during your initial consultation before you decide to move forward with the process. We do not bill insurance for Ortho-K.
There is no warranty. We do allow a one-time purchase of a second pair at a reduced price as your insurance policy. We recommend this as it gives you the confidence that even if you lose or break a lens, you will have a spare and don’t have to go without seeing in that eye for a few days.
If you decide to stop the Ortho-K process within 30 days after starting, we will refund 50% of your money. If you stop before 60 days, then 30% will be refunded. After 60 days, no refund will be given.
What is covered in the cost for Ortho-K?
Quite a bit!
Topographical images are taken of the cornea. With these images, a custom-designed Ortho-K lens is made for each eye. The lenses are then ordered and a follow-up training appointment is made when they arrive.
At the second appointment, the doctor will check the fit of the lenses. The patient will be trained at this point on insertion and removal. Once proficient, the patient will be sent home with the lenses and will follow up the next morning, wearing the lenses. If everything is okay the next day, then the next follow-up is in a week.
Assuming all goes as planned, the schedule of follow-up appointments thereafter is as such:
- 3 weeks (1 month from start),
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year.
If there is ever an issue that first year, then it is covered, unless there is a loss of the lens. If there is something medically wrong with the eye, in that situation, the visit will be billed to your medical insurance.
What happens if my eyes change?
Fortunately, this does not happen all that often, but when it does, the patient will be asked to not wear the lenses for at least a week (sometimes more). At the next visit, if the corneas look stable, new readings will be taken and the same process as done originally will be repeated and lenses with the new Rx will be made. There is a slightly reduced cost compared to the original fitting for the procedure.
What about annual eye exams?
At your consultation, we will discuss your annual evaluation fee going forward, which will include a comprehensive exam and follow-up on your Ortho-K lenses. As long as there are no issues after your first year, we will continue seeing you annually.
Can there be issues with the lenses?
Yes! Almost all lenses build up proteins and lipids over time. Buildup tends to make the lenses less stable on the eye, the instability causes less-than-ideal results. At every annual exam, we will “super clean” your Ortho-K lenses, which removes any build-up that your regular lens cleaner cannot remove. Over time lenses can, and often do, warp. When this happens, your doctor will suggest ordering new lenses.
How long are the lenses good for?
Most doctors require patients to replace their Orthokeratology lenses yearly. We find that to not be necessary in most cases. Lenses should be replaced at least every third year as they will begin to warp or change shape over time. The older lenses can then be saved as a spare in case of emergency.