What is Ortho-k?

Orthokeratology, sometimes known as Ortho-K, is the temporary refractive alteration of the cornea to improve eyesight. Ortho-k employs specially developed and fitted contact lenses (CLs) while they sleep to reshape the cornea and correct refractive faults, particularly in short-sighted patients.

What is the cornea?

Advanced orthokeratology uses a corneal topographer. A Corneal Topographer is a tool that an ophthalmologist uses to map and measure the cornea's surface to create a lens specifically for the eye. The cornea map is made by reflecting light off the eye's surface. There is no pain because the machine doesn't contact the eye. Your ophthalmologist can see the contours of your cornea thanks to the corneal topography map.

By flattening the cornea's center, the lenses alter how the light changes direction while it enters the eye. These stiff, gas-permeable nighttime lenses are strong enough to turn the cornea, allowing oxygen to pass through to keep your vision healthy.

What is a Corneal Topographer?

The cornea's curvature is typically smooth. Nonetheless, the cornea's curvature can occasionally be distorted, as shown by mountains and valleys in 3D images captured by the Corneal Topographer. This computer-assisted diagnostic tool produces a three-dimensional map of the cornea's surface curvature. A thorough, visual depiction of the cornea's form and power is created through corneal topography.

The corneal topography apparatus comprises a computer connected to a lighted bowl with a ring pattern inside. During diagnosis, a patient is seated in front of the bowl with their head resting against a bar. Like a topographic map of the earth that shows variations in the land surface, computer software digitizes these data points to represent the corneal form, using different colors to identify different altitudes.

Concluding notes on Orthokeratology:

The full benefits of orthokeratology for adults may take two weeks or longer to manifest. Ortho-K is a long-term procedure that involves wearing lenses at night. The advantage is that they don't need to be worn throughout the day because they work at night. They are also capable of fully curing myopia. However, one needs to be careful to avoid the complication of a corneal infection. When wearing ortho-k lenses during the first few days, some patients report experiencing eye sensitivity. Other times, long-term use of ortho-K lenses has been linked to white deposits or lesions, iron rings or arcs, or both. In particular, lesions were linked to a lengthy course of treatment, which included wearing the retainer lenses for months or years. Another issue that users of ortho-k lenses worry about is corneal thinning. Depending on its condition, doctors also recommend replacing an ortho-K lens every 1-2 years.