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Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) For Children

Orthokeratology, or "ortho-k," is the process of reshaping the eye with specially-designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses.

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Is Your Child Becoming More Nearsighted Every Year?

Orthokeratology is an FDA approved procedure that can address your concern of your child becoming more nearsighted. You can do something about it

Myopia (nearsightedness) means you can see at near, but distance is not clear.Eyeglasses or contact lenses are the common approaches to address that. They “compensate” and to help you see better at distance, but the nearsightedness often continues and becomes worse because eyeglasses compensate, but do not correct.

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What Causes Myopia in Children?

Why do some children become nearsighted?

The most common reasons are :1- problems using the two eyes together as a team (Binocularity)2- problems physically focusing (Accommodation)

Don't eyeglasses correct those problems?

No. Eyeglasses compensate but do not correct. When a child gets new eyeglasses, they continue to have difficulty with eye teaming and eye focusing. Children, therefore, become more nearsighted.

How can we solve the problem?

Nearsightedness is the outcome of a poorly focusing and teaming problem.Solve the underlying problem and the individual no longer continues to become nearsighted.Vision Therapy enables the child to fix the underlying problem.

Here is an analogy:

  • Faulty visual system = fire
  • Nearsightedness = smoke
  • Vision Therapy = extinguishes the "fire".
Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology = Ortho-K

Young people or children who become more and more nearsighted should consider Ortho-K.Orthokeratology is similar to Orthodonture. Think of Ortho-K as “Braces for your Eyes”.

These are special molding lenses worn at night, similar to a retainer worn in the mouth while sleeping. Studies show that the treatment reduces existing myopia as the contacts are worn overnight.

The benefits are:1- see clearly during the day and2- there is usually no progression of the myopia.

Ortho-K enables children to play sports without the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.Taking care of the lenses are easier to maintain than conventional lenses.

Orthokeratology is FDA approved for children AND adults. (LASIK is usually done only once the myopia is somewhat stable)

Contact Dr. Roth for an Orthokeratology Consultation or an Orthokeratology Evaluation for your child’s vision. To learn more, click on the links below.

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