Is My Child a Candidate for Ortho-k?

Young kids tend to be very active at school and in sports. If your child has myopia, they might find staying active with prescription eyewear very challenging. Here is where ortho-k lenses come in.

 

With ortho-k lenses, your child can live an active life and have good vision. Ortho-k is also a great way to control myopia progression in children. Ortho-k may entirely halt the progression of myopia in children between five and six years old.

 

Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive eye condition in which you tend to see objects close to you clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. It occurs when the light rays enter your eye and are refracted incorrectly. Usually, the light rays focus before reaching the retina instead of on it.

 

Myopia develops in childhood, and it can progress rapidly or slowly. In addition, it is usually hereditary, meaning if someone in your family has it, your child might have it too. A comprehensive eye exam diagnoses it, so it's important for children to get exams regularly. Usually, you can correct nearsightedness with prescription eyewear. However, a different approach is needed if you want to control myopia progression.

 

Ortho-k for Myopia Progression

Myopia has become a widespread condition, with children first developing it at about six years old. Nearsightedness tends to progress into adulthood, predisposing myopes to other diseases. Because of this, it is essential to control the progression of myopia in children. There are several techniques for control of myopia progression. Among these, one of the most effective is ortho-k lenses.

 

Ortho-k lenses are worn only at night when your child goes to sleep. Through the nights, they reshape the cornea gently. Your child will have near-perfect vision in the morning, which will last throughout the day. You will rarely need to get your child prescription eyewear if they have ortho-k treatment.

 

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common condition of the eyes. It involves an irregularly curved cornea that makes vision blurry. Many people usually have a form of astigmatism that goes unnoticed. If your child is experiencing blurry vision for objects at all distances, they might have astigmatism.

 

To diagnose astigmatism, you will need to take your child to an eye doctor. An eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam on your child. They might do a test called corneal topography. It will determine the extent of your child’s astigmatism. There are several methods to address astigmatism; one of them is ortho-k.

 

Ortho-k for Astigmatism

There are several forms of astigmatism that your child might have. If they have corneal astigmatism, they are viable candidates for ortho-k. Ortho-k lenses worn through the night will reshape the irregular cornea causing astigmatism.

 

This will result in clearer vision during the day. The change, though, is not permanent, and when your child is older, they might have to go for surgery to correct astigmatism.

 

Benefits of Ortho-k Lenses

• No need for eyewear
   

• Corrects multiple conditions
   

• It is fast
   

• Results that last throughout the day
   

• Comfortable treatment
   

• It is safe for children
   

• It is flexible
  
  
   

For more on ortho-k lenses and the conditions it treats, contact Diamond Bar Optometric Center at our office in Diamond Bar, California. You can call (909) 861-4999 to book an appointment today.