Orthokeratology
Custom overnight contact lenses that reshape your eyes while you sleep, so you see clearly all day without glasses or contacts.
What is orthokeratology?
OrthoK (also called dream lenses, OK, or night lenses) uses hard contact lenses worn only at night, which gently mould the front surface of your eye into a shape that refocuses light. That means clear vision during the day without glasses or daytime contacts.
A corneal topographer maps your eye's surface, and a custom lens is designed from that map. The lenses are made from highly oxygen-permeable material, so your eyes stay healthy through overnight wear. Most people notice improved vision after the first night, and stopping lens use returns the eyes to normal within weeks.
How orthokeratology works
Who is it appropriate for?
OrthoK is highly recommended for children aged 7 to 17 who are short-sighted and deteriorating rapidly. If a prescription isn't stable and is changing by -0.50D a year or more, I'd want to test at least every 6 months. It's also a good option for adults simply looking for an alternative to daytime glasses or contacts.
What are the advantages over LASIK?
It suits patients who don't have a stable prescription, it doesn't make dry eye worse, and the lenses can be adapted as your prescription changes.
Does it hurt?
The lenses are stiffer than soft disposable contacts, but the process itself doesn't hurt. There's an adaptation period where the lenses feel more noticeable than a standard soft lens at first, improving after a few nights.
Is it safe?
OrthoK is a safe, non-surgical alternative to LASIK, FDA-approved since 2002 and recognised by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. It's reversible. As with all contact lenses, there's a small infection risk, which proper cleaning, care, and following instructions significantly reduces.
Is it safe for children?
OrthoK has been used in children for over 20 years. Children tend to be motivated, follow instructions well, and learn lens handling quickly. Evidence shows young children are actually safer contact lens wearers than adults in their 20s. Lenses go in before bed and come out in the morning, so there's no handling needed during the school day.
What role does it play in myopia management?
The number of children becoming myopic has grown rapidly over the last 25 years, and recent research points to OrthoK as one of the best options for controlling progression, though results can't be guaranteed for every individual case.
What's the process?
Book an appointment to measure your prescription and assess eye health. If you're suitable, we proceed with an orthokeratology package, priced according to prescription strength and myopia control needs. A 50% deposit covers lens manufacturing, plus lens care and eye care products for the duration. Follow-up appointments are scheduled once your lenses are ready.
Let's take care of your eyes!
By appointment only
Book your eye test with Carina
No referral needed. Medicare rebates apply.