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Orthokeratology
(Ortho K)

Ortho-K can provide clear daytime vision without glasses or contact lenses and may help slow myopia progression in children and teenagers.

 

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Options is Proud to Offer Ortho K at our Joondalup, Canning Vale (Livingston), and Tea Tree Plaza Locations

Clear daytime vision without wearing glasses or contact lenses during the day.

Orthokeratology, commonly known as Ortho-K, uses specially designed rigid contact lenses worn overnight to gently and temporarily reshape the front surface of the eye.

The lenses are removed in the morning, allowing many suitable patients with myopia (short-sightedness) to see clearly during the day without glasses or daytime contact lenses.

The effect is temporary and reversible, so the lenses need to be worn regularly to maintain clear vision.

Who Is Suitable for Ortho-K?

Ortho-K may be suitable for:

  • Children and teenagers with progressing myopia
  • Adults with mild to moderate short-sightedness
  • People who prefer not to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day
  • Active people involved in sport or outdoor activities
  • People whose work or lifestyle makes daytime contact lens wear inconvenient
  • Some people who experience discomfort with conventional soft contact lenses

Suitability depends on your prescription, corneal shape, eye health and individual circumstances, so a detailed assessment is required before Ortho-K lenses can be prescribed.

Ortho-K for Myopia Control in Children

One of the most important uses of orthokeratology is myopia management in children.

Research shows that Ortho-K can help slow the progression of myopia and reduce axial eye growth in many children compared with conventional single-vision correction.

Slowing myopia progression is important because higher levels of myopia are associated with an increased lifetime risk of certain eye conditions.

Ortho-K does not permanently stop or cure myopia, and results vary between individuals. Your optometrist will discuss whether it is an appropriate myopia-control option for your child.

What Are the Benefits of Ortho-K?

For suitable patients, Ortho-K can offer:

  • Clear vision during the day without glasses
  • No need for daytime contact lenses
  • Greater freedom for sport and active lifestyles
  • A reversible alternative to refractive surgery for some adults
  • An established option for helping manage childhood myopia
  • Regular professional monitoring of vision and eye health

How Does Ortho-K Work?

Ortho-K lenses are individually designed to match the shape of your eyes.

They are worn while you sleep and apply controlled changes to the shape of the cornea. When the lenses are removed in the morning, this temporary reshaping alters how light focuses in the eye, improving daytime distance vision.

Your optometrist will carefully map your cornea, assess your prescription and monitor your progress to ensure the lenses continue to fit and perform appropriately.

Ortho-K Requires Ongoing Care

Because Ortho-K lenses are worn overnight, correct lens hygiene, regular follow-up appointments and professional monitoring are important.

Your optometrist will provide instructions on lens insertion, removal, cleaning and care, and will regularly check your corneal health and vision.

Where Is Ortho-K Available?

Orthokeratology and Ortho-K contact lens fitting is currently available at selected Options Optometrists practices in Perth and Adelaide:

  • Joondalup, Perth
  • Livingston, Canning Vale
  • Tea Tree Plaza, Adelaide

Contact your preferred practice to arrange an Ortho-K assessment and find out whether orthokeratology may be suitable for you or your child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ortho-K Safe? 
How long do Ortho-K lenses last?

The recommendation is to replace your Ortho-K lenses every one and a half to two years, depending on their condition. Timely replacement of the lenses maximises the quality of the Ortho-K reshaping, as wear and tear will compromise its effect over time. Regular replacement decreases the chance of infection or inflammatory events from a scratched or dirty lens. You should bring your Ortho-K lenses to every appointment to allow your optometrist to check their condition under the microscope.

How much does Ortho-K cost and will my health fund help pay?

The cost of the ortho-K lenses and the ortho-K program depends on the complexity of your prescription and your eye’s parameters. This is established at your initial consultation. Your case will fall into one of the following programs, as advised by your optometrist:

  • Ortho-K Fitting Program: From $2999 (2 x $695 standard ortho-K lenses & $1609 program)

Your initial comprehensive eye exam is bulk-billed and will include a discussion about your suitability. Some health funds do contribute towards Ortho-K. Please ask one of our staff members in-store to confirm whether you are covered. To maintain good eye health (minimise infections) and optimal vision, lenses will require replacing every 1.5 years (these can again be claimed through private health insurance).

Are there age restrictions for Ortho-K?

There is no specific age restriction for ortho-k. Children as young as five have successfully and safely received ortho-k corneal reshaping. Ortho-k is scientifically proven to reduce or halt the progression of myopia, a process called myopia control, and is one of the most popular methods of myopia control vision correction in children and teenagers.

Is Ortho-K therapy permanent?

No. If you stop wearing the Ortho-K lenses, your vision will return to its original state within one to four weeks. For best results, try to achieve a minimum of 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night with the lenses in.

Can I see with my Ortho-K lenses in the eye?

Yes, while the back surface of the lens reshapes your eye, the front surface of the lens provides clear optics for your vision. One of the great features of Ortho-K is that your vision will always be clear whether the lenses are in or out of the eye. That means if you get up at night, you will still be able to see. We do not recommend wearing your Ortho-K lenses during the day as this may compromise corneal health and vision over time.

Do I need to wear my Ortho-K lenses every night?

You will need to wear your lenses every night during the initial period of therapy to ensure clear vision during the day. As the correction stabilises, some people with low prescriptions may still get great daytime vision by wearing the lenses only every second night. However, this is not guaranteed. Patients requiring higher prescription correction with Ortho-K will most likely need to wear the lenses every night for optimum vision.

How quickly do Ortho-K lenses work?

Most patients have rapid improvement in the first few days of therapy. Usually, after the first night of wear, 50% of the required correction is achieved. Optimum, stable vision for most will require between 10-14 days of treatment, depending on the prescription.

How long does the myopia control effect last?

The myopia control effect of ortho-k lenses will last as long as you use them. There is no research or anecdotal reports of patients ‘rebounding’ after ceasing Ortho-K contact lenses. It’s expected that patients who start Ortho-K contact lens wear for myopia control continue to use these until their early twenties, when myopia tends to stabilise. The decision to stop Ortho-K should be made with your optometrist, and prescription and eye length should be closely monitored for possible regression. In most cases, patients are so happy with their Ortho-K lenses that they continue to wear them well into adulthood.