I remember showing up to school wearing my very first pair of glasses. I was crazy excited to walk into my 5th grade classroom sporting my new red-rimmed metal glasses.
Over time, I began noticing how much I disliked how I looked with glasses on. Not to mention that glasses hindered my favorite past time of laying down on my side and watching TV.
My elementary school crush had just started wearing glasses and I thought that he would notice me if I was wearing glasses too. 12 years have passed since those naive years and the excitement and adoration I felt for my glasses quickly disappeared.
As much as I wanted to stray away from glasses, my eyesight got progressively worse and now both of my eyes are at -3.00 with no astigmatism.
It didn't help that my genetics played a role in my worsening eyesight and that I was constantly staring at my laptop to study. My dependence on glasses grew and I didn't want that.
I even tried contact lenses, but my eyes are so sensitive that after only an hour of wear, my eyes felt dry and I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something in my eye. I thought I had explored all of my options, but then enter orthokeratology.
Prior to being Insight Vision Center's optician, I was clueless about orthokeratology. I had never even heard of the term before.
When Dr. Mai and Dr. Lam educated me about the process, I was beyond ecstatic. Dr. Mai then mentioned that based on my prescription, I would be a great candidate. I didn't hesitate to say yes.
Dr. Mai first used a machine to take a topography, or a map, of my cornea. He proceeded to show me my topography and pointed out where my cornea rises, dips, and flattens.
He indicated where he would reshape my cornea so it's the perfect shape to see 20/20. He took the time to answer all of the questions I had, and with that, Dr. Mai designed the lens.
Before taking my orthokeratology lenses home with me, I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Lam. She taught me how to put the lenses in my eye.
Since the lenses are hard (not soft and flexible like soft contact lenses), I was definitely aware that I had something in my eyes. I could not stop crying!
Dr. Lam assured me that this reaction was normal for a first-timer and that over the next couple of weeks, my eyes would get used to this feeling.
I talk about orthokeratology all the time to everybody I meet and genuinely want to spread the word because not only is it such a great alternative to glasses or regular contact lenses, but it also decreases the rate of myopia progression.
From the first night to one year later — watch as my vision transformed
Inserting the lenses the first night wasn't too difficult, minus my teary eyes. I ended up having to close my eyes after inserting the lens and not move my eyes around.
On the third day, I had another follow up and learned that my right eye was 20/30 and my left eye was 20/20. I could now tell the difference!
My eyes continued to be reshaped and my vision was sharpest about a week and a half after my initial fitting. In the morning, everything was perfect.
Dr. Mai redesigned my right lens and increased my treatment zone to decrease the halos intensity. The diameter of the halos did decrease over time.
It's almost been a full year since I started orthokeratology and I don't ever want to stop using it.
Mimi just got accepted into Optometry school and will be part of the 2021 graduating class! Her journey from glasses-wearer to OrthoK advocate to future eye care professional is truly inspiring.
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