Not everyone gets along with contact lenses or glasses, but often, people feel they don’t have any other choice, as they are either too young or aren’t suited for options like LASIK eye surgery. This is where the innovative Ortho K lenses, otherwise known as Corneal Reshaping Therapy (CRT), come into the picture. They are an affordable and safe alternative to standard vision correction methods for near-sighted children and adults, and something we offer here at Davis Eyecare Associates.

What are they?

Wearing orthokeratology lenses doesn’t require surgery – the lenses are simply worn overnight. They gently work to reshape the surface of the cornea and to correct your vision whilst you sleep, enabling you to see clearly the next day once you take them out the following morning.

Once you start wearing them, you should see an improvement after the first night or two. However, you should allow a few weeks to experience complete vision correction. Ortho K lenses act as a temporary vision correction method, so you can choose to stop wearing them at any time and allow your eyes to gradually return to their original prescription. After this, you can go back to wearing glasses, contact lenses, or opt for LASIK eye surgery in Chicago.

How do I get started with Ortho K?

Getting fitted for these lenses will require several visits to see our experienced contact lens specialists. This is because we need to assess your current eyeglass prescription, discuss your lifestyle needs and then go on to map the surface of your cornea in order to customize the shape your Ortho K lenses.

Adjustments might be needed to the initial pair, so more than one pair of lenses needs to be made to ensure that your vision is being fully corrected.

Helping children enjoy the summer

Many children do not want the stigma of wearing glasses or normal contact lenses during the summer. Either of these can present challenges for children in terms of use and care.

It has been suggested that wearing Ortho K contact lenses slows down the progression of myopia (near-sightedness) in children as young as 6 years old by approximately 50%. Whilst they may not be the right solution for every child’s prescription, recent cases have shown that there are potentially significant benefits for some.

Some parents also consider them to be a safer option than regular contact lenses for children, as they are only inserted and removed at home under parental supervision and present less discomfort or risk of damage as your child is asleep whilst wearing them.

Great for adults too

These revolutionary contact lenses are especially suited to those who play sports, or work in a dusty environment.

Under these circumstances, having no eyewear or contact lenses affected by pollutants to worry about during the day can make a huge difference.

Is it suitable for you?

As one of the best eye doctors in Chicago, we’re proud to have plenty of options for adults and children to choose from, in terms of vision correction.

To find out if orthokeratology lenses are a viable option for you, all you need to do is book an appointment with one of our friendly experts at Davis Eyecare Associates. We’re always happy to discuss all your options and create a unique treatment plan for yourself, or your children. We will give you all the information you need on the process of fitting, use, care, and costs, so you can make an informed choice before going ahead with a full consultation. If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team, you can also call us on (708) 636-0600.