Ortho-K

Here at Dr. Gary D. Polan we offer an advanced corneal reshaping technique known as orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, as an alternative to Lasik and PRK. This non-surgical technique can produce changes to the way your cornea refracts light.

What is Ortho-K?

Ortho-K is the use of gas-permeable contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea to reduce refractive errors. 

Unlike standard contacts, you'll wear these lenses while you sleep. During the night, the lenses will perform a subtle corneal reshaping so that in the morning you are able to remove them and enjoy perfect or near-perfect vision all day. 

The results of Ortho-K last 1-2 days. By wearing Ortho-K lenses regularly, you can maintain your clarity of vision for as long as you choose to use them. If you decide to use another form of vision correction, stop wearing Ortho-K lenses and your corneas will assume their previous shape. 

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What is the Cornea?

The cornea is a transparent, spherical bulge that sits over the lens of your eye. In addition to protecting the inner parts of the eye, the cornea performs some lens-like tasks of its own. The shape of cornea causes incoming light rays to be refracted (i.e., bent) in such a way that the lens can focus them into a clear, sharp image before they move on to the retina and optic nerve. 

Deformations in the shape of the cornea cause refraction to go wrong in various ways, producing the fuzzy images characteristic of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Glasses and contact lens are curved to "pre-refract" incoming light to compensate for corneal deformation. Laser surgery corrects the shape of cornea itself, eliminating most of the visual errors that call for corrective lenses.

Who is Ortho-K Right For?

Ortho-K is a good option for those who cannot or choose not to undergo laser eye surgery. 

If you suffer from thin corneas, untreated cataracts, diabetes, certain autoimmune diseases, or keratoconus, you should avoid laser eye surgery. Alternatively, if you don't like the idea of surgery or prefer a reversible eyecare option, Ortho-K may be suitable for you. 

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