Orthokeratology - Correct Your Vision Without Lasik Surgery

Orthokeratology is so often overlooked as a great way to correct vision. In fact, most people have never even heard of it. Which is amazing because the people who use orthokeratology for their vision correction absolutely love it.

First, I am sure many people are asking "What is Orthokeratolgy?"

In short, OrthoK is a non-surgical way to reshape a persons cornea for optimal vision. It is done through the aid of contact lenses that are worn at night. You put the lenses on at night, before going to sleep. When you wake in the morning, just remove the lenses and you can see clearly.

From a user perspective, it is that easy! no glasses, no contacts during the day, nothing! these things are amazing!

And the best part, OrthoK is completely reversible. So if for some reason you ever decide you want to wear regular glasses or contacts again, simply stop wearing your lenses at night. Within a few days, you will have your same old vision back.

The image above is a topography map of a normal cornea. This eye had a mild nearsighted correction of -2.50. Meaning that glasses or contact lenses were absolutely required in order to see anything beyond a couple feet in front. 

Notice how the cornea looks entirely different now? The center of the eye has a flatter surface, which has corrected the need for eyeglasses or contacts.

Prescriptions are measured in diopters and in short if someone has a correction of -2.50 diopters, it means that the light is focusing just a little bit before the retina. So, all that has to be done is alter the refracting surface (the cornea) to bend light 2.5 diopters less than it was originally.

This is the exact same principle used in Lasik surgery, only that is surgery (which frightens me, and is permanant).

With OrthoK, the retainer contact lens is worn only while you sleep and your corneas are in essence molded to this new seeing shape.

No Glasses, and No Contact Lenses. It is truly incredible.

And if you don't wear the OrthoK lenses, your eyes just go back to normal. Very safe, very effective. As a bonus, the latest studies show that Orthokeratology may slow the progression of myopia in children! That is a HUGE breakthrough! 

There are a few versions of OrthoK, at first I had my eye care provider try the common variety of OrthoK called CRT (corneal refractive therapy). The results were so so. These are basically the cookie cutter style of orthoK lenses.

Then I went to a contact lens specialist who fits Wave Contact Lenses. These are lenses that are designed on a CAD software system that actually imports a topography image of your cornea. (that is what the pictures above are). They took images of my corneas, designed lenses and the results have been fabulous!.

I still wear my fashion reading glasses to see up close, but that is totally fine with me. everything else is crystal clear! I can drive, work at the computer, enjoy the sunset, golf, go shopping all without worrying about my contacts getting dry or my glasses fogging up. (because I don't have to wear them anymore).

If you are interested, I highly recommend you find an eye care provider who fits Wave Contact Lenses and is an expert at orthokeratology. My eyes were pretty basic, but orthoK can correct all sorts of vision