Orthokeratology for the Eyes | Everything You Need to Know

Although glasses and contact lenses are very effective in correcting refractive errors and helping patients see clearly again, they are not without drawbacks. It’s impossible to participate in certain sports while wearing glasses, and contact lenses can be expensive and unsuitable for patients with specific eye conditions such as allergies.

Laser vision correction is an alternative to many of these options, but it is costly, and many patients are not comfortable with undergoing surgery or making a permanent change to their vision. Another solution is orthokeratology (ortho-k), which is available at the Eye Center in Batal Specialized Complex, where you can find leading ophthalmologists and specialists supported by advanced medical equipment.

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What Is Orthokeratology?

Orthokeratology is an innovative, non‑surgical treatment that helps patients see clearly without glasses, daytime contact lenses, or laser eye surgery. It involves using specially designed, custom‑fit contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea to improve vision.

When ortho-k lenses are worn overnight, they can be removed upon waking the next morning, allowing the patient to enjoy clearer vision throughout the day before putting them back on at night.

You won’t achieve maximum vision improvement after just one night, but many people notice some positive changes immediately. In most cases, ortho-k lenses need to be worn every night for about a week to reach the best and most stable visual clarity. If you stop wearing the lenses, your vision gradually returns over a few days to its previous state before treatment.

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Why Is Orthokeratology Used?

Orthokeratology is primarily used to correct myopia (nearsightedness). It can also be effective for some patients with hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism. Refractive errors such as myopia don’t affect adults only—they are common in children as well. Reducing myopia progression in children at a young age may lower their risk of serious myopia‑related complications later in life, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.

Ortho-k is suitable for many patients, but everyone should undergo a full consultation before being approved for treatment. The Eye Center at Batal Specialized Complex in Saudi Arabia is recommended due to its high success rates, thanks to a team of highly qualified and well‑known ophthalmologists.

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Who Is Ortho-k For?

Ortho-k is used mainly to correct myopia (nearsightedness). This refractive error can also be corrected with regular glasses, standard contact lenses, LASIK, or PRK. Orthokeratology offers a non‑surgical way for some people to be free from glasses and avoid wearing contact lenses during the day.

Ortho-k is sometimes recommended for children to correct their vision. In many children, their prescription continues to change into late adolescence or even into their twenties, and laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK are not usually advised until the prescription has stabilized. There is no conclusive evidence yet that ortho-k definitively slows myopia progression in children, but this is being actively studied as a potential benefit.

How Does Ortho-k Work?

The cornea is the clear, dome‑shaped window at the front of your eye. It focuses light onto the retina and is responsible for a large part of the eye’s focusing power. Corneal tissue is quite flexible.

Your eye doctor will map and measure the surface of your cornea using an instrument called a corneal topographer, then design a custom lens for your eye. Corneal mapping is done by reflecting light off the surface of the eye; the device does not touch your eye, and the procedure is painless. The corneal topography map shows your doctor the exact shape and curvature of your cornea.

Ortho-k lenses gently flatten the central part of the cornea, changing how light bends as it enters the eye. Most orthokeratology lenses are worn overnight to reshape the cornea and then removed during the day. These overnight lenses are rigid gas permeable lenses—firm enough to temporarily mold the cornea, but permeable enough to allow oxygen through so the eye stays healthy.

After removing the ortho-k lenses, the cornea remains flattened for a period of time, providing clear vision without glasses. If you stop wearing the lenses at night, your corneas will eventually return to their original shape and your refractive error will come back. To maintain the visual correction, you must wear the lenses regularly as prescribed.

Read also: Corneal Astigmatism and Vision Correction at Batal Complex in Jeddah

Is Orthokeratology Safe?

Many people are concerned about wearing contact lenses, but ortho-k lenses are made from modern gas‑permeable materials that allow sufficient oxygen to reach the eye, helping maintain eye health and reducing the risk of complications such as dry eye disease.

If you have a refractive error and find glasses uncomfortable or unsuitable, orthokeratology may be the solution you are looking for. You can contact the Eye Center at Batal Specialized Complex in Saudi Arabia to learn more about orthokeratology and find out whether you are a good candidate for this effective treatment.

What Is Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT)?

Paragon CRT (by Paragon Vision Sciences) is a specific brand of corneal reshaping lenses with a particular lens design and fitting system known as Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT).

Although CRT is technically distinct from orthokeratology, it is used for similar purposes and produces comparable results. For simplicity, the terms “orthokeratology” and “ortho-k” are often used to describe all types of corneal reshaping lenses, including CRT lenses. After examining your eyes, your eye doctor will determine which type of corneal reshaping lens is best for you.

How Long Does It Take to Get the Full Effect of Ortho-k?

This varies depending on several factors, especially how much myopia (and possibly astigmatism) you have when you start ortho-k. Some people achieve excellent vision after just one or two nights of overnight wear. Higher prescriptions may take two weeks or more to reach maximum correction.

Until your eyes are fully corrected, you may experience some blurred vision, glare, or halos around lights. In some cases, you may need to wear glasses with a reduced prescription during the adaptation period.

In addition, mild glare or halos may persist in some patients even after maximum ortho-k correction is achieved.

What to Expect When You Start an Ortho-k Program

Your eye doctor will begin by measuring the shape of your corneas with a corneal topographer. This is a painless procedure that takes about a minute and produces a detailed map of your corneal surface.

Your doctor may use an in‑office inventory of trial lenses to fit your first ortho-k lenses on the same day the corneal topography is performed, or may order custom ortho-k lenses to be fitted at a later appointment.

You may need a series of temporary lenses to help you see clearly as your corneas gradually change shape until you reach the target prescription. In most cases, up to three pairs of lenses are needed to achieve maximum vision correction.

When you first start wearing ortho-k lenses, you will likely be aware of the lenses on your eyes until you fall asleep. Over time, they typically become more comfortable soon after insertion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vision problems can ortho-k correct?

Orthokeratology is most commonly used to temporarily correct myopia (nearsightedness). In general, ortho-k can correct up to about -6.00 diopters (D) of myopia. Ortho-k can also correct lower degrees of astigmatism, hyperopia (farsightedness), and presbyopia (age‑related difficulty focusing up close), depending on lens design and individual eye parameters.

How long does the effect of ortho-k last?

You should be able to see well without glasses or daytime contacts for a full day, sometimes up to two days or more, depending on your eyes and lens design. For the most stable results, it is usually recommended to wear your ortho-k lenses every night.

Whatever your symptoms of poor vision or eye defects may be, these sensitive medical conditions require a thorough examination and appropriate treatment by a skilled, experienced ophthalmologist using effective medical technologies that deliver real improvement. Whatever eye disease or problem you are dealing with, you can book an appointment at Batal Specialized Complex for a comprehensive eye exam and to begin addressing your eye issues, no matter how complex they are.

Batal Specialized Complex in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an excellent choice for anyone suffering from eye pain or anyone who wants to return to healthy, near‑natural vision.

Read also: Top Reasons to Consider LASIK Beyond Just Clear Vision