3 Common Myths About Orthokeratology

Eyeglasses are the traditional corrective eyewear for people with vision problems. This eyewear, however, can obstruct your peripheral vision and is prone to falling off or breaking when you participate in sports and other outdoor activities. As an alternative, many people switch to contact lenses. Some of them, however, don’t feel comfortable wearing contact lenses throughout the day.

Fortunately, orthokeratology (Ortho-k) offers a solution to this problem. It’s an unobstructed corneal reshaping procedure that corrects refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Similar to other vision correction methods, Ortho-k is surrounded by many controversies. Insight Vision Center Optometry debunks three misconceptions about Ortho-k in this blog post.

Myth: Ortho-K Fitting Is Complicated

Ortho-k is a newer procedure that utilizes specially designed gas permeable contact lenses to reshape the cornea. This, however, is not as complicated as it may seem, depending on the fitting method your eye specialist will use.

For instance, empirical fitting is the easiest way to fit Ortho-k lenses. Your eye doctor will only add one or two components to your standard eye exam. They also have more control over the design of the lens, which increases the potential success of your Ortho-k treatment.

Myth: Ortho-K Lens Physically Compress Corneal Tissue

Despite what most people think, Ortho-k lenses do not squish the corneal epithelium or push the cells from the center to migrate to the periphery. Instead, Ortho-k involves hydraulic forces beneath the contact lenses. The corneal epithelium is then altered to mimic the shape of a minus powered soft contact lens. This is achieved by utilizing pressure gradients to influence cell hydration and not mechanically compressing the tissue.

Myth: Ortho-K Is Risky

Infection is one of the biggest risks that contact lens wearers often face. Cleaning and caring for the eyes, however, is the best way to avoid this issue, whether you are using Ortho-k or soft contact lenses.

Turn to Insight Vision Center Optometry for your vision care needs. Our eye doctors will help correct different eye conditions through Ortho-k, vision therapy and forms of treatment. Call us today at (714) 486-3315, or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment. We serve residents of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, CA.