Can we use Ortho-K lenses to correct Children's Vision?

Short sightedness, more correctly called myopia, is one of the most common reasons for people to come to us for a free eye test in Colchester. The condition can arise at any age and as many as a third of people in the United Kingdom are affected by it to some degree. Not long ago the only treatment that was available to deal with the condition was corrective lenses in the form of traditional spectacles or contact lenses.

Many of our customers prefer to continue to use this traditional solution, and there is no doubt that contact lenses can be highly effective and a good pair of spectacles can look fantastic. And this is fine for adults. Bur children are not really suitable candidates for contact lenses and anyone who had to start wearing spectacles while at school will remember just how cutting some children can be.

Fortunately, technology has moved on and there are now alternatives that can be used to give them perfect vision without spectacles or the need to wear contact lenses all day. Let us introduce you to Orthokeratology or “Ortho K” lenses. This is truly game changing technology which uses gas permeable contact lenses and completely revolutionises the treatment of myopia. Traditional corrective lenses, whether they are worn in contact with the eye or mounted in spectacle frames only work when they are being worn. Ortho K lenses continue to correct your vision even after you have taken them out.

We know that this sounds impossible but Ortho K lenses, or “corneal reshaping lenses” are designed to be worn by a child while they sleep. Essentially overnight they gently reshape the cornea – the clear dome making up the front surface of the eye – and having done so the user will continue to see clearly once the lenses are removed the following morning. This can give both adults and children a full day of perfect vision without the needing glasses or contacts. The effect can actually last for as long as two days, but generally the best results are achieved by wearing the lenses as you sleep every night.

Ortho K lenses correct refractive issues in the eye, for both adults and children. They are most commonly used to treat short-sightedness, but they can also help in the treatment of astigmatism (meaning that the eye is more rugby ball shaped than football shaped) and hyperopia or long-sightedness. Ortho K lenses are also effective in reducing the progression of myopia in children.

Not having to wear spectacles or contact lenses during the day can be liberating for adults, but in the harsh environment of the playground they can help to avoid the confidence issues that can come when a child first begins to wear spectacles. Ortho K lenses can also be particularly useful for children who love an active lifestyle. The fact that the child in question glasses during the day means that there is no more risk of lost or broken glasses from sporting accidents or playground hijinks.

So come and see us and see if you qualify for a free eye test in Colchester. The treatment is particularly good for children because it causes no permanent change but we also suggest Ortho K lenses to adults as an effective non-surgical alternative to eye surgeries such as LASIK.

Ortho K lenses are a completely reversible, non-invasive and safe method of treating poor eyesight without needing to wear spectacles or contact lenses all day. Come for a free eye test in Colchester and discover if this exciting new approach can help to liberate you from the tyranny of corrective lenses and take you to a world of crystal-clear vision.