Orthokeratology (also known as Ortho-K) contact lenses are a safe and established method of correcting vision. It works by wearing a custom designed rigid contact lens overnight to gently reshape the cornea. The lenses essentially act like a mould (think of a retainer for your teeth) that flattens the central part of the cornea. This temporarily changes the power of your natural eye’s lens system, giving the wearer clear vision without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
Ortho-K is not just an elegant way to correct your vision, we actually consider it beneficial in a range of clinical settings. These include if:
- You suffer from ocular allergies (itchy eyes).
- Have dry, red or irritated eyes associated with daytime contact lens wear.
- Have progressing myopia (short-sightedness).
- You do a lot of swimming and/or water sports.
- You work in very dusty or smoky environments
For children, teenagers and young adults, Orthokeratology can be used as a tool to help control myopia (short-sightedness). For more information on Myopia Control click here.
We use only the most up to date lens technology. Our lenses are completely custom designed and manufactured for you. This is important as many other lens systems commonly used in the industry are pre-manufactured in a range of sizes and you are provided simply with the nearest to what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want clear vision without spectacles or contact lenses, why not do laser refractive surgery?
You can! They are both good options. Main differences to be aware of:
- Orthokeratology is not as invasive or expensive as laser refractive surgery.
- Orthokeratology is also completely reversible, unlike refractive surgery.
- Orthokeratology can act like a mild multifocal contact lens, so over the age of 40 we can manipulate your correction to help you stay reading glasses free for as long as possible!
It is important to note also, you are generally excluded from being able to have refractive laser surgery if your prescription is actively changing. This is not a problem for Ortho-K.
Am I suitable for Ortho-K?
It is important to note that not every person, prescription or eye may be suitable. Don’t worry, this is part of our process! We will always do a complete and thorough general eye test before making any plans to proceed. This includes a full vision test, corneal topography and a full ocular health assessment (both front and back of eye).
Once we have a full picture of your prescription, eye health and visual needs we can more accurately predict if you are likely to have a good outcome or not. We try and make sure you have all the information upfront and in advance of you investing time and money into an Ortho-K correction.
How much does it cost?
All our final pricing quotes are given once we know exactly what is required after your initial assessment. No hidden surprises! If you are just after a rough guide, you can usually expect between $1500 and $1900 for new fits.
All our pricing is inclusive of:
- 2x orthokeratology rigid lenses.
- A complete fitting adjustment warranty for each lens, just in case any adjustments are needed.
- An all inclusive consultation fee that covers you for all the appointments required to complete the fitting process (no maximum).
At East Vision Optometry we don’t just use one supplier, each have their own pros and cons for certain patients. Some of them are cheaper and some are dearer. We strive to keep our pricing better VALUE than the industry average.
Why is there a range of pricing? Some of the factors that can vary the lenses we use are:
- Patient prescription (far sighted/ short sighted? A little or a lot? Astigmatism too?)
- Patient’s eye (Corneal shape and size. Any corneal irregularities? Any underlying ocular surface disease that may need parallel treatment/ management?)
- Correction type (Distance vision only? Need a bit of reading help/ support also? Adult/ Teenager/ Child? Myopia Control?)
- Prior or current Ortho-K use? Just need a re-fit?
It would certainly be nice to simply things and offer a flat rate but in our many years of experience fitting Ortho-K is not a “one size fits all” service.
