Frequently Asked Questions

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We aim to provide clear vision without the aide of glasses or contacts during the day. Higher prescriptions may take up to 6 weeks to achieve maximum vision. However, some patients experience excellent vision after just two days! 

Most people see improvement in your vision after a day or two of overnight Ortho-K, it can take several weeks for the full effect to last all day. During this time, your vision will not be as clear as it was with glasses or contacts. A few people may notice some glare and halos around lights at night. It is possible you may need a temporary pair of contact lenses for certain tasks, like driving at night, until your vision is fully corrected by the Ortho-K.

Ortho-K retainers are custom made and designed to specifically fit your child’s eye and prescription. They are rigid retainers and may take some time getting used to them but are meant to only be worn with the eyes closed. After a few weeks they are less noticeable. 

We have patients that range from 6 years old - 65 years old. If they are comfortable putting eye drops in and are motivated to upkeep their retainers with proper lens care and hygiene,  then they will be ready for Ortho-K!

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 six 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 the eye doctor. Most often children age 8-10 are mature enough to consider orthokeratology but there are cases where even younger children are offered this treatment option.

Absolutely! We fit many college students from the D1 athlete to the bookworm and it works great for them. 

Your qualified Optometrist will discuss with you and your child the different options for achieving myopia control. She will also gather a series of measurements that will help assess what type of treatment will be best. 

The vast majority of patients need to wear their orthoK every night, especially if using them for myopia control. Otherwise, the effect wears off and the vision is decreased the next day.
The patient and parent/guardian must adhere to good hygiene, a commitment to buying proper solutions, adhering to handling and cleaning regimen and must be available for follow up appointments as prescribed by the Doctor.

Sleep is essential, at least 6 hours continuously, more sleep will stabilize the vision later in the evening.

Yes, it’s possible to have LASIK surgery after orthokeratology. But because ortho-k lenses reshape your cornea, you must stop wearing the retainers for a period of time so your eyes can return to their original shape and stabilize. The amount of time to stabilize may be weeks to months, it depends on how quickly the cornea stabilizes. Be sure to tell your OrthoK Doctor that you’re interested in refractive surgery, so they can advise you how long you should wait before having the surgery.

Yes, orthokeratology materials and orthokeratology for vision correction by the FDA since 2002. In May 2021, OrthoK was approved for myopia control.

Yes, 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. This risk is minimized by adhering to scrupulous disinfection and care procedures, by wearing your retainers only as instructed and by coming in for regular progress.

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.

An FSA or HSA allows you to allocate pre-tax dollars toward qualified healthcare expenses and may include Ortho-K. FSA/HSA is an employer-sponsored benefit that allows you to pay for eligible medical expenses on a pre-tax basis. Not all employers participate in these programs. Check with your Benefits Manager to see if your employer participates.