Orthokeratology
Enjoy the freedom of good vision throughout the day without spectacles.
What is Ortho-K?
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, involves wearing contact lenses at night to correct your vision during the day. The contact lenses help to reshape the cornea through gently moulding the surface of the eye.
Ortho-K is a non-surgical option for people who experience the struggles of myopia / short sightedness. It helps you to see clearly in the daytime without the use of prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Who is suitable for Ortho-K?
A large number of prescription wearers are suitable for Ortho-K.
To assess your eligibility, we recommend you book in for an initial orthokeratology consultation. This consultation will also explain the process of Ortho-K which involves customising a contact lens specifically for your eyes.
What are the Ortho-K risks?
The risks are minimal and in line with other contact lens wear modalities. Ortho-K does not result in a permanent change in the shape of the cornea. It is reversible with the cornea returning to its original shape within a few weeks of ceasing to wear your Ortho-K contact lenses.
As with all contact lenses, care must be taken to ensure good hygiene practice such as cleaning the contact lenses each morning after overnight wear.
Orthokeratology FAQs
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No, it is temporary change that is reversible. If you, or your child, stops wearing the lenses regularly while you sleep, your vision will return to it’s original state within a couple of days.
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The results of dry eye treatment will vary by patient. Anecdotal evidence suggests that after the first two treatments, minimal improvement may be noted. After three treatments, improvements are likely to be noticed by patients together with an improvement in clinical signs. The great majority of patients start to notice an improvement after 4 treatments. A cautiously optimistic approach is to expect improvement after 4 - 5 treatments together with a reduction in the use of lubricating eye drops.
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The cost of the treatment plan for the fitting of the lenses, and regularly monitoring thereafter, is $1100. In addition, there is the cost of the contact lenses which can vary based on the prescription. On average, the cost of the contact lenses is $900.
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We have successfully fitted children as young as eight years of age with Ortho-K lenses. The key is the commitment of both the child and the parents to being successful with the treatment plan. It can be a great option for children and teens that are active in sports or other activities where glasses would get in the way.
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Depending on your private health fund cover and level of rebate, yes you will be able to claim part of the cost. There is no rebate available from Medicare towards the cost of Ortho-K.
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Laser surgery, or Lasik, is a permanent surgical procedure. Laser surgery is not always 100% successful but is not reversible. Ortho-K is a gentle adjustment that is always reversible. An unsuccessful fit will not be a long-term problem. In addition, Ortho-K is always adjustable if your eyes change and you have the freedom to move between Orthok, spectacles or contact lenses as desired.