Myopia (more commonly known as nearsightedness) is becoming increasingly common in children, and it can easily grow worse over time. Fortunately, your optometrist has a way to correct your child’s vision during the day while also slowing down the progression of their myopia: Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K for short. To help you make an informed decision for your child’s ocular health, here’s a closer look at Ortho-K and what the process looks like.
How Does Ortho-K Work?
Ortho-K utilizes special medical contact lenses that, when worn at night, gently reshape your child’s cornea. Myopia occurs when the eye is longer than normal, which affects its ability to focus light properly. But by reshaping the cornea, Ortho-K helps light focus on the retina as it should, thus allowing your child to enjoy better vision during the day.
In addition to helping your child see more clearly, Ortho-K can also slow down the rate at which myopia progresses. The way it focuses peripheral light in front of the retina tells the eye to slow down its growth. This can ultimately help stop your child’s myopia from reaching high levels that could put them at risk for serious eye diseases in adulthood.
What is the Ortho-K Process?
Managing your child’s myopia with Ortho-K is a medical treatment that involves multiple steps. After your optometrist performs a thorough eye exam and other necessary tests, special Ortho-K lenses will be designed according to your child’s specific needs. A lens fitting and training appointment will be held to make sure that you and your child understand how to safely insert, remove, and care for the Ortho-K lenses.
Your child will only need to wear their Ortho-K lenses at night. When they wake up in the morning, they will be able to enjoy clearer vision without having to rely on glasses or contacts. As your child continues to use Ortho-K, their optometrist will continue to monitor their eye growth and corneal shape in order to make sure that the treatment is working as intended.
Is Ortho-K Right for Your Child?
Ortho-K can be an excellent option for children as young as 6 years old who have mild to moderate myopia. It can be an especially good choice for young athletes who don’t want to have to worry about wearing glasses or contacts on the field or court. The treatment is generally considered safe as long as it is prescribed and overseen by a trained eye doctor.
Slowing down your child’s myopia with Ortho-K could go a long way toward improving their quality of life. If you’re worried about your child’s nearsightedness, you can talk to their optometrist to see if Ortho-K – or another form of myopia management – could be the right choice for them.
About the Author
Dr. Jordana Chettiparampil is a therapeutic optometrist who specializes in using orthokeratology for myopia control in children. She is a graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry, and she is a member of the American Academy of Orthokeratology & Myopia Control. She cares about making a lasting impact on the overall eye health of her young patients. If you have a child who is in need of myopia treatment, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Chettiparampil at Richmond Eye Experts by visiting her website, using her online booking tool, or calling (832) 685-2020.