Myopia (nearsightedness) is becoming more prevalent every day, with over a billion people struggling with the condition globally. The numbers are intended to rise because the factors which cause the disease are on the rise every day. Orthokeratology has been proven to correct myopia and reduce its progression over the years.
Orthokeratology is a modern non-surgical, harmless, and adjustable treatment that reshapes your eye's cornea using rigid gas permeable lenses, which help correct the cornea's refractive power. It is also known as Ortho K or Vision Shaping Treatment (VST).
This treatment uses high technology on your corneal topographers. The lenses are produced through computerized lathes which accurately remove any errors on your Ortho-K nightwear contact lenses. The new technology has helped accomplish good vision such that you don’t have to use glasses after wearing the contact lenses overnight.
George Jessen invented Orthokeratology in 1960,s. He discovered the autofocus technique after refitting his patient’s lenses about six times, flattening the patient’s cornea. After some time, it was proved to eliminate myopia.
Kerns conducted the first test to determine whether the treatment was effective. He discovered that the cornea of the patients who were using the Ortho- K lenses developed a curved shape which pointed up to the success of the treatment. The test concluded that the patients who used the lenses for their treatment improved their vision significantly even after completing their treatment.
Orthokeratology is the option if you are shortsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. If you are a sportsperson or in your early 40,s and have started experiencing blurry vision, you might as well consider the treatment to help improve your sight.
Ortho-k lenses are used during the treatment. They are designed to float on top of the eye tear film. Epithelium, hydraulic pressure is applied at the front layer of your cornea. The lens forms a cellar of fluid over the eye, which causes some parts of the cornea to take in more water while the other parts take less, and this is what causes the reshaping of your cornea.
Ortho-k lenses can be trusted to correct up to 4.00D of myopia but become slightly unreliable when correcting higher myopia in Australia, where the cases are rising every day. Practitioners target over 6.00D. The good news is that the Ortho K technology has progressed, and more corneal reshaping lenses are being designed to meet the targeted correction for higher degrees of myopia.
The Ortho-k lenses are best worn at night since they are more comfortable during the night. It is highly recommended that you wear your lenses every night for the best results. It has been proven the best method to slow myopia's progression, especially for men and women aged 25 to 45 years.
There are different contact lens designs that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved to manage myopia. They include:
- Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses.
They are available as an alternative to soft lenses. They are more durable than soft lenses. Since they are small in diameter, you can feel them as you blink. The sensation eases with time, and you get more comfortable with them.
- Soft contact lenses.
They are more comfortable than the rigid gas permeable since they are made from a flexible plastic that adorns the eye, thus allowing oxygen to flow to your cornea. They are easier to adjust, and most of them are disposable.
- Hybrid contact lenses.
These lenses provide a medium. They have a rigid center surrounded by a soft lens skirt that is easy to maintain and more comfortable. This helps to provide better vision compared to soft lenses. If you are a patient who has struggles with corneal astigmatism. Then hybrid contact lenses are the way to go.
- Scleral contact lenses.
These contact lenses provide you with a large diameter that clears the front of the eye. They are fitted to leave space between the lens and the cornea. This space acts as a reservoir to moisten the eye. These lenses are a great help, especially if you suffer from a severe ocular disease.
- Extended contact lenses.
These lenses have a silicone hydrogel which allows more oxygen to penetrate through the lens to your eye. As its name suggests, you can wear the lenses continuously for six days up to one month. It reduces the risk of low concentration of oxygen in the eye tissues, leading to inflammation of the cornea.
- Decorative contact lenses.
If you like changing your eye color, these are the best for you. Although the lenses are not necessarily for eye correction, an eye care provider must prescribe them.
Optometrists are health care professionals who provide extensive primary eye care. They closely examine the eye for any defects or abnormalities. Only those who have a doctor in optometry degree qualify to be professionals.
Optometrist in Melbourne ensure the sustainability and continuous evolution of this sector to improve the eye health of the Australian community. Optometrists in Melbourne reported that many eye deformities in Australia are treatable and preventable.
The University of Melbourne offers a Doctor of optometry with a master’s entry-level degree. The profession is one of its kind in the Northern Hemisphere creating a new guideline in optometric education in Australia.
Melbourne has well-respected optometrists who are genuinely concerned with the well-being of your eye while maintaining both quality eye care and eyewear. Patients from Melbourne are encouraged to take advantage of this corneal corrective option to treat their eye problems while they sleep.
Optometrist in Melbourne will walk with you through the benefits of Orthokeratology in their different clinics to help make your day hassle-free, whether at work, in school, or on the sports field.
Conclusion
There is sufficient evidence that suggests that Ortho K is a very safe option for corneal correction. It is important to note that the long-term success of Ortho K treatment requires diligent adherence to routine follow-ups, treating complications on time, and proper lens fitting.
The significant number of patients appreciating this treatment shows that the goal for ortho K, which is to correct your vision and help you see clearly without contact lenses during the day, has been achieved. The FDA found that at least 65% of the treatment patients have completed 20/20 visual acuity to prove how effective Ortho K is.
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