Top 4 Health Benefits of Wearing Ortho-K Lenses
Are you frustrated by wearing eyeglasses round the clock? Do you find contact lenses expensive and fancy to wear? You aren’t alone. Here is a new revolutionary way to deal with vision loss due to refractive errors and corneal irregularity. It is known as Orthokeratology.
Ortho-k or Orthokeratology refers to the use of gas-permeable contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea to reduce refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. This is the latest method of treatment that is used as an alternative to eyeglasses, refractive surgery and for those who do not want to wear contact lenses during the day.
Users simply wear their lenses while they sleep, and then remove them during the day while maintaining crisp vision. They correct refractive errors overnight by reshaping the corneas to allow you to see clearly throughout the day without the need for glasses or contacts.
These lenses work progressively. This means that you need to wear lenses every night in order to achieve the optimal result. At max it can allow you to see with complete clarity for up to 48 hours.
Ortho-k lenses are also termed as Gas-Permeable lenses because they are made of a firm plastic material which allows the passage of oxygen through the lens to your cornea and front surface of your eye- allowing your eye to “breathe”. This increases comfort, health and safety during contact lens wear.
Now, let’s know the significant advantages of wearing these lenses.
#1. Enhanced Viewing Ease
These gas-permeable lenses are designed to rectify refractive errors such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. These lenses are created using a precise mapping technology that ensures they will fit specifically to your eyes. Due to the rigid material, GPs have a smooth surface and maintain their shape, moving along with the eye to hold their place. This provides sharp and stable vision. They also do not dehydrate which is the reason of their comfort.
However, getting used to these lenses is not an easy task. You need to keep patience because it slowly improves the vision correction.
#2. More Hygienic
Unlike other lenses, these lenses don’t contain water, so they don’t attract and breed bacteria which causes eye infections. Also protein deposits don’t build up on the lenses, so they remain clean and healthy. As they are made of strong durable material, they don’t tear and are easy to clean and disinfect. They maintain their firm shape and don’t dehydrate as well.
#3. Improved Eye Protection
There is a common myth that gas-permeable lenses don’t provide professional eye protection. But, round the clock, they conceal your eyes from potential trauma and weather. There are chances that dust particles or dirt could enter your eyes even after wearing glasses.
This dust can damage your cornea and retina significantly. With these lenses, the particles will not crash with your retina. However, it is recommended to wash your lenses for safety purposes.
#4. Protection From Harsh Sun Rays
Harmful UV rays can easily damage the corneas of your eyes. Due to which, you cannot make direct eye contact with the sun. However, Ortho-K lenses will safeguard your eyes from dangerous sun rays if you wear them during day time. These lenses come with blue light protection and other features. Therefore, they will allow fewer harsh UV rays to enter in your eyes.
Final Wrap-Up
The multitude of benefits that Ortho-k lenses provide make them a clear choice for those who need vision correction. With appropriate care and maintenance, these lenses will undoubtedly last for years. However, before wearing them, consult with your ophthalmologist and undergo a regular eye examination.