Eye care that is new to children, and adults. Find what optometrists are doing that is new using the latest technology in vision care. Freedom from glasses and contacts in the daytime. Look and feel great!

1. WELCOME TO THE ORTHO-K
WORKSHOP!

2. WHAT IS ORTHO-K?
 A method to reduce your dependence on
glasses or contact lenses
 without having to undergo eye surgery
 Reversible

3. WHAT IS ORTHO-K?
 Specially designed hard
contact lenses worn during
sleep
 Gently reshapes the front
surface of your eye (cornea)
through your tear film
pressure
 Clear vision during the day
with no need for glasses at
least 95% of the time

4. WHY IS ORTHO-K NEEDED?
 Ortho-k lenses are prescribed for two purposes:
1) To correct refractive errors
 mainly Nearsightedness
 but also Astigmatism and Far-sightedness
 In some cases, Ortho-K also is used to correct
Presbyopia
2) To slow the progression of childhood myopia

5. TYPES OF ORTHO-K LENSES
 One specific brand of Ortho-k lenses and fitting
technique:
 Bausch + Lomb's Vision Shaping Treatment (VST)
 Ortho-k can be safely and successfully performed with
other gas permeable (GP) lenses and corneal reshaping
fitting techniques
 Only highly "breathable" GP lenses that have been
FDA approved for overnight wear should be used
for Ortho-K

6. HOW LONG DOES THE ORTHO-K EFFECT
LAST?
 You should be able to see acceptably well without
glasses or contact lenses for a day or two,
sometimes longer
 For best results, you should wear the Ortho-K
lenses every night.

7. WHICH VISION PROBLEMS CAN ORTHO-K CORRECT?
 Ortho-K is most often used to temporarily correct
Nearsightedness (myopia)
 Generally, Ortho-k can correct upwards of -6.00
diopters (D) of myopia

8. WHICH VISION PROBLEMS CAN ORTHO-K
CORRECT?
 The type and amount of refractive error that can be
effectively managed with Ortho-K differ case-by-
case
 Your eye doctor will be able to give you more
specific guidance after examining your eyes

9. WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR ORTHO-K?
 Most people with low to
medium myopia (with or
without mild astigmatism) are
good candidates
 Children and young adults
who want to be glasses-
free but
 are too young for LASIK or
 are not good candidates
for refractive surgery for
other reasons (ie. dry
eyes)

10. WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR ORTHO-K?
• Participant in contact sports or
• Those who work in dusty environments that can cause
problems for regular contact lens wear

11. ARE THERE ANY RISKS OF ORTHO-K?
 The corneal reshaping effect is temporary
 little risk is involved
 wear of the lenses can be discontinued anytime
 But you will need to start wearing glasses or contacts again
when your nearsightedness returns
• Ortho-K lenses are still a form of Contact Lens

12. ARE THERE ANY RISKS OF ORTHO-K?
• Remember Ortho-K are specially designed contact
lenses
• So there can still be Rare complications such as
infection, allergies to solutions, and dryness of the eyes

13. WHO FITS ORTHO-K LENSES?
 In the United States, optometrists perform most
Ortho-K lens fitting
 But ophthalmologists also perform ortho-k fittings
 In some cases, Ortho-K may be performed
by a contact lens technician under the
supervision of an optometrist or
ophthalmologist

14. WHO FITS ORTHO-K LENSES?
 Ortho-K is a very specialized type of contact lens
fitting, and not all eye doctors who fit contact lenses
also fit Ortho-k lenses
 If Ortho-K interests you, seek the services of an eye
doctor who specializes in fitting these lenses

15. WHAT RESULTS CAN YOU EXPECT FROM
ORTHO-K?
 Eye care practitioners usually aim for 20/20 vision
after Ortho-k
 but 20/40 vision (the legal minimum for driving in most
of the United States) often is considered an acceptable
outcome

16. WHAT RESULTS CAN YOU EXPECT FROM
ORTHO-K?
 In the clinical study for FDA approval of one VST
design,
 about 95 percent achieved 20/40 or better
 and 73 percent achieved 20/20 or better

17. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU BEGIN
ORTHO-K
 Mapping of the front surface of your
eye (Corneal Topography)
 Order custom Ortho-K Lens for fitting
 Calculate and fine-tune to the best
fitting Ortho-K lens to reach
maximum vision correction (usually
up to 3 pairs of lenses)

18. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR MAXIMUM
ORTHO-K EFFECT?
 Many factors
 Amount of nearsightedness
 Usually up to 2 weeks
 Individual response to gentle reshaping of the front
surface of the eye by tear film pressure

19. HOW MUCH DOES ORTHO-K COST?
 More time & expertise than fitting regular contact lenses
 Series of Office visits (usually up to 7)
 Varies with degree of nearsightedness & astigmatism
 Longer term consideration if using for Control of
Nearsightedness
 Ortho-k prices in the U.S. generally range from $1,000
to $2,000 (for both eyes)
 roughly half the cost of LASIK.

20. HOW MUCH DOES ORTHO-K COST?
 additional costs for replacement Ortho-k
lenses
 lens care solutions
 can total about $300 to $500 per year
• Normally, Ortho-K is not covered completely by
vision care Insurance Plans
─ but a portion of the fees may be covered by some plans

21. CAN I HAVE LASIK AFTER ORTHO-K?
 Yes, it's possible to have LASIK after Ortho-k
 desire for vision surgery to permanently correct your
eyesight
• Unlike LASIK, Ortho-k is reversible
 If you try reshaping lenses and later decide you want laser
vision correction instead, you can do that

22. CAN I HAVE LASIK AFTER ORTHO-K?
 Will have to discontinue wearing the lenses and
wait a period of time before surgery (possibly
several months)
 to allow your corneas to fully revert to their previous
shape

23. SOURCES
 Ortho-k and Corneal Refractive Therapy: Overnight Contacts to Control
Myopia. http://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/orthok.htm