Orthokeratology involves wearing rigid, custom-made lenses overnight that flatten the cornea of your eye very slightly to temporarily reduce its curvature. They are worn like normal contact lenses. As soon as you wake up, you remove the contact lenses and the vision is clear without glasses or contact lenses. You will see clearly during the day, without glasses or lenses, but this effect is temporary since the cornea will gradually return to its natural shape.
These lenses are suitable for people with low or moderate myopia, ie less than – 5 diopters or with or without astigmatism. They are a solution for people who cannot have surgery and cannot stand conventional contact lenses during the day, due to dry eyes. Some professionals, such as athletes, also use them.
Orthokeratology lenses are also suitable for children from 8 years old. A study carried out in Hong Kong between 2010 and 2012 on more than 100 children from 6 to 10 years old and having myopia of – 0.5 to – 4 diopters, showed that these lenses even slowed the progression of myopia!