Looking For an Eyewear-Free Lifestyle?
Wearing glasses or contacts is necessary for some people, but they can also be a nuisance. Glasses can fall off your face or break if you play sports or have a physical job. Contacts often lead to dry eyes or can be uncomfortable. You can’t swim with glasses or contacts. Children’s glasses are constantly needing to be fixed, adjusted or replaced because they get broken or are scratched to the point of uselessness.
Imagine a world where visually challenged people could wake up in the morning and could suddenly see clearly; could see all obstacles in their way, and at the correct distance!
No more glasses, no more contacts lenses and getting dust stuck in them, no more taking out contacts to go swimming. Just imagine.
Well for quite a few of us, it’s a reality. It might sound far-fetched, but many people go to sleep at night short-sighted and wake up with 20/20 vision. And no, they don’t get sucked up into an alien space craft and get experimentally operated upon. They simply wear special corneal moulds overnight while sleeping. When they wake up, they have clear eyesight throughout the day without needing to wear any form of corrective eyewear.
Magic? No, it’s orthokeratology.
Orthokeratology, also known as OrthoK therapy, is a non-surgical way of correcting nearsightedness, or myopia. Refractive errors are caused by irregularities in the structure of the eye. These “misshapes” interfere with the eyes’ light-bending processes, so we don’t see properly. Myopia, for example, results from having an elongated eye shape or an overly curved cornea.
Orthokeratology contacts are rigid, gas-permeable moulds designed to be worn overnight. They are specially designed for each patient and work by gently reshaping the cornea to help eyes focus better. Users remove them as soon as they wake up, and, “Hey Presto”, better vision. No need for glasses or daytime contact lenses.
OrthoK therapy delivers quick results. After wearing the moulds for just one night, people can immediately enjoy sharper, clearer eyesight. One day they were wearing glasses and the next they’d forgotten how they used to see the world.
Of course, perfect vision is not permanent. Myopia slowly returns after 12 hours so users need to wear the Ortho-K lenses at night for them to work their magic again. Over time, clear vision will be longer lasting, and some people can even enjoy perfect vision for up to two whole days!
Who Would Benefit Most From OrthoK Therapy?
People with mild to moderate myopia (nearsightedness) are the primary candidates for OrthoK therapy. And studies show that this corneal reshaping can significantly reduce myopia progression, especially in children. OrthoK therapy can also help people with astigmatism and hyperopia (farsightedness).
OrthoK therapy – the Clear Alternative To Surgery
If you’re looking for a safe and effective alternative solution to treating eye problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism, for you or your child, we think Orthokeratology is a truly great option. It is a non-surgical, low-risk way to help improve vision so you can take back the freedom to play sports, go swimming, and live your life without the restrictions of daily-use corrective lenses.
The best way to find out if you’re a good candidate for orthokeratology is to have your eyes checked by one of our eye care specialists at John O’Connor Optometrists in Auckland. Our friendly opticians will be there to explain all the ins and outs of OrthoK therapy and how you could see a clearer brighter future. Keen? Call our Newmarket Optometrists on 09 522 1283 or Henderson Optometrists on 09 836 1731 or send us an email enquiry via our contact page. We’d be happy to organise an appointment for you to come in talk to our optometrists at a time that suits you best.