Am I a Candidate?

Dr. Meg Brya, our Orthokeratology specialist, will determine a patient's eligibility for the procedure during a consultation. Some levels of nearsightedness and astigmatism are too great to achieve successful results with orthokeratology and there may be other indications or conditions that would prevent a patient from achieving clear vision with these specialized contact lenses.

Orthokeratology Candidate Profile:

Age: seven years or older
Spherical refractive error: -0.75 to –4.00 D spherical power correction
Cylindrical refractive error:
- –1.50 D or less “with-the-rule” corneal astigmatism
- –0.75 D or less “against-the-rule” astigmatism
Children with steadily progressing nearsightedness
Recreational and sports activities where periods without wearing visual correction are beneficial
Patients whose vocation requires unaided visual acuity for certain periods, such as police, firemen, military, or occupations where refractive surgery may be a cause for exclusion (deep-sea divers, high altitude pilots, etc.)
Those wishing to be free from optical aids during the day
Those patients who experience dryness or discomfort with conventional contact lenses
Free of corneal dystrophies (e.g. keratoconus), ocular diseases, or any condition that may preclude the patient from gas permeable lens wear
Motivated to undergo full or partial nearsighted reduction and willing to return to the office for two to three months of active treatment and every six months for passive treatment
Committed to see initial and ongoing cost of ortho-k treatment

The following steps/considerations are involved in an Orthokeratology consultation:

For night wear orthokeratology the candidate's prescription has to fall within a certain range
Measurements of the cornea are taken to individually design the lenses for each eye
The doctor must evaluate the fit of the special lens on the eye before beginning treatment
If the fit is acceptable, a staff member knowledgeable about contact lenses and their handling teaches, or reviews, insertion, removal, handling and proper hygiene
The patient is seen the first morning after sleeping in the lenses to determine how much corneal shaping has occurred
The majority of ortho-k patients are able to drive comfortably the first day; they may notice a slight difference in vision between morning and afternoon on the first day, but this difference usually lessens as the cornea retains it's shape over time
Ortho-K patients are required to be seen the first morning after sleeping in the lens(es), then at one week (from the starting date of ortho-k procedure), one month later, three months later and six months later
Routine check-ups should be performed every six months so that the performance of the lenses can be monitored and the lenses can be professionally cleaned and polished

*The information provided by this Web site is for educational purposes only. This Web site is not comprehensive on the topics addressed. It is not a substitute for direct consultation with your health care provider. Always consult a licensed professional regarding your specific condition. Any trademarks referred to are the property of their respective owners.