Glasses wearers of all ages will be familiar with the inconveniences they cause. Whether it’s sports, adverse weather conditions or accidental damage, it is worth considering alternative options.
Ortho K contact lenses are not exactly new technology, but have grown significantly in effectiveness and popularity in recent years. Lesser known than daily or monthly soft lenses, many patients will overlook them without fully understanding how they work and the benefits they provide. So, how different are they to normal contact lenses?
Ortho K contact lenses are hard, gas-permeable lenses that work to reshape the cornea overnight.
For anyone who wears glasses, the daily hassles are all too familiar- slipping off during sports, fogging up in cold weather, or worrying about accidental damage. These frustrations make many people wonder if there’s a better way to see clearly without the constant dependency on glasses.
While not a brand-new invention, Ortho K contact lenses have gained popularity in recent years due to their proven effectiveness and unique benefits. Unlike standard daily or monthly soft lenses, Ortho-K lenses work differently, and many patients overlook them simply because they don’t yet understand how they work.
Ortho-K lenses are rigid, gas-permeable contacts designed to gently and temporarily reshape the cornea while you sleep. This means you can wake up to clear vision without needing glasses or daytime contacts.
The Science Behind Ortho-K Lenses
Ortho-K lenses work by gently reshaping the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of your eye that helps focus light onto the retina). Vision problems like myopia (nearsightedness) occur when the cornea’s shape causes light to focus in front of the retina, resulting in blurry vision.
When you wear Ortho-K lenses overnight, their specially designed shape applies gentle pressure to the central part of the cornea. This subtle reshaping flattens the central cornea, temporarily shifting how light enters the eye and allowing it to focus correctly on the retina. Because Ortho-K lenses are rigid but gas-permeable, they allow oxygen to reach your cornea, keeping your eyes healthy.
The clear vision that results is temporary, which is why consistent overnight wear is required to maintain sharp vision.
Ortho K lenses are suitable for children and adults suffering from myopia, and can even help slow its progression in young people.
Book Your Appointment Today
The Bromley Eye Centre is currently the only Ortho K licensed opticians in Bromley- book an appointment with us today to find out more.
