Slowing Myopia Down With Orthokeratology

One of Clarendon Vision’s favorite things to do is to bring new technologies and therapies to patients. We want to help all of our patients achieve their vision goals. To that end, Dr. Spokas recently attended the Vision by Design conference. This conference focuses on the latest research and information about orthokeratology (Ortho-K) treatment.

At this conference, Dr. Spokas was able to attend sessions with ponderous titles such as Evidence-based Updates on Management of Progressive Myopia and Optimizing Orthokeratology for Myopia Control. While the session titles might make us scratch our heads, for Dr. Spokas these sessions provided great new information about orthokeratology that she’s eager to share with Clarendon Vision patients. While doctors first discovered that they could reshape lenses decades ago, orthokeratology is still a pretty new area of practice. It wasn’t until recently that computerized corneal topography technologies and advancements in gas permeable lens design and manufacture made orthokeratology a good treatment option for myopia patients.

What does this mean for Clarendon Vision patients?
Orthokeratology is an exciting area of practice because it is one of the most effective treatments for slowing myopia progression. While myopia (nearsightedness) itself can be frustrating, it also raises risks of other diseases of the eye such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Slowing the progression of myopia can help provide protection against these more serious eye diseases.

What is Ortho-K treatment?
Ortho-K treatment involves being prescribed very specific custom retainer lenses. They are like a contact lens, but instead of wearing them during the day, they’re worn overnight. While the patient sleeps, these retainer lenses help reshape their cornea. The patient takes out the Ortho-K lenses in the morning and goes about their day with clearer, sharper vision. Orthokeratology can be helpful for myopia and astigmatism, and is appropriate for children and adults. Wouldn’t it be great for your active child to be able to play soccer or dance without glasses or corrective lenses? To go to the swimming pool with friends without you worrying about misplacing their glasses? Or to have a fun day at the amusement park or camp while wearing only sunglasses?

How does Clarendon Vision do Ortho-K treatment?
Clarendon Vision uses a technology called WAVE to custom design Ortho-K lenses for patients. We do a topography (a very detailed map) of the cornea and then use WAVE software to design a lens that’s specific for that patient’s eye. Most refractive errors of the eye, including myopia and astigmatism, come from a cornea that has a slightly less-than-optimal curvature or shape. By using a lens custom-created for each patient’s eyes, we can achieve quick results and very high comfort with Ortho-K treatments. There are other Ortho-K treatments available that rely on pre-designed lenses, but it can be a process of trial-and-error to find the right fit to achieve results, and progress may be slower.

All medical professionals are required to stay current in their fields and attend educational events throughout the year. Dr. Spokas is pleased to be able to extend her knowledge and Clarendon Vision’s practice to include the latest information about orthokeratology.

Do you want to learn more about orthokeratology and explore whether it would be a good option for your child to significantly slow down myopia progression? Wouldn’t it be great for sunglasses to be the only glasses your child needs during summer activities? (Remember, we carry a large variety of sunglasses, too!) Make an appointment today to discuss this exiting treatment.