The goal for Ortho-K is to correct your vision to 20/20 without eyeglasses or contact lenses during the day. In FDA trials of both CRT and VST lenses, more than 65% of patients were able to achieve 20/20 visual acuity after wearing the reshaping lenses overnight. More than 90% were able to see 20/40 or better the legal vision requirement for driving without glasses in most states.

Success rates for Ortho-K tend to be higher for mild prescriptions. Call our office to find out if your prescription is within the range that can be successfully treated with Ortho-K.

Though you may see some improvement in your vision after a day or two of overnight Ortho-K, it can take several weeks for the full effect to be apparent. During this time, your vision will not be as clear as it was with glasses or contacts, and you are likely to notice some glare and halos around lights. 

It’s possible you may need a temporary pair of eyeglasses for certain tasks, like driving at night, until your vision is fully corrected by the Ortho-K lenses.

Some people have comfort issues when attempting to wear gas-permeable contact lenses during the day. But since Ortho-K GP lenses are worn during sleep, comfort and lens awareness are generally not a problem.

Ortho-k is a significantly longer process than a regular contact lens fitting. It requires a series of office visits and potentially multiple pairs of lenses. Also, GP lenses used for Ortho-K are more costly than most regular contact lenses. Therefore, fees for orthokeratology are higher than fees for regular contact lens fittings.

Our office uses state-of-the-art technology to measure the change in corneal curvature, along with the change in nearsightedness. Finally, we carefully select our patients undergoing this procedure, maximizing the likelihood of success. An honest assessment is the first step for obtaining desired treatment outcomes.

There is no lower age limit on the FDA approval for orthokeratology, which makes this treatment available for carefully selected children. The scientific literature supports contact lens treatment for some children as young as eight years of age. Any child undergoing Ortho-K must have the aptitude and responsibility to adhere to proper lens care and hygiene, and this requires a careful and honest assessment by both the parents and our eye doctor. Most often children age 8-10 are mature enough to consider orthokeratology but there are case where even younger children are offered this treatment option.

No. The FDA has validated the safety and efficacy of Ortho-K. But like all forms of contact lens treatment, eye irritation is possible. Most cases are minor and resolve on their own if Ortho-K wear is stopped and there is appropriate professional care. Still, there are rare and isolated reports of serious eye infection with overnight corneal reshaping where improper lens care and hygiene were suspected. Our patients receive a complete review of the benefits, risks, and alternatives during their consultation so that it is possible for you to make an educated decision to undergo Ortho-K.

Yes, provided that you have access to an FSA through your employer. An FSA allows you to allocate pre-tax dollars toward qualified healthcare expenses including Ortho-K.