Orthokeratology is a principle of corneal remodelling which consists in wearing rigid contact lenses during sleep to obtain clear and natural vision during the day without glasses or contact lenses.
This innovative principle would come from a Chinese ancestral technique consisting of myopes putting small sandbags on their eyelids before sleeping to reduce their visual disturbance and see better during the day.
Since the first orthokeratology lenses were introduced more than 20 years ago, the technique has evolved with significant innovations. It has benefited many people in recent years.
These specialty contact lenses are made of a rigid material that respects the physiology of the eye and acts like a mould: the lens temporarily reshapes the cornea during sleep (for at least 6 hours). It gradually reshapes it until it regains a proper curvature. Thus, the corneal deformation that caused the visual defect disappears, and the wearer's vision is naturally clear as soon as the night lenses are removed upon awakening, and this for several hours. However, the number of hours varies according to the degree of myopia.
Another positive point? Orthokeratology is non-invasive and reversible, meaning that wearers can stop wearing it at any time and choose another correction method. For optimal results, it is necessary to wait for 7 to 10 nights of wearing specialty contact lenses. The corrective effect will last between 16 and 18 hours. The visual defect will reappear after 24 to 48 hours, which is the time it takes for the cornea to regain its initial natural curvature. This is why it is essential to wear the lenses every night to enjoy the best quality of vision during the day.
Want to know more about how this works and if you are a good candidate? Make an appointment with your trusted IRIS optometrist for an orthokeratology consultation. Your optometrist will be able to provide you with the different myopia control options that apply to your eye health and lifestyle.
