Orthokeratology is the science that uses specially designed rigid contact lenses worn during sleep, reducing myopia and providing clear vision during the day without glasses or contact lenses. The user wears the lenses every night and removes them upon waking.
Elina also tried these lenses after much trouble with glasses and contact lenses. Below, you can read about her experience with orthokeratology, in her own words.
Life with Glasses and Contact Lenses
“I am Elina, 35 years old, a physiotherapist and a mother of two children. I have worn glasses for as long as I can remember, and this has troubled me a lot in both my childhood and adult life.
Because I had 4 diopters of myopia, my glasses were essential; without them, I couldn’t see at all. However, they had a weight, even with thin lenses, making them uncomfortable no matter which frame I chose. As a physiotherapist, my glasses often hindered my work. The worst part about using them was all those times my children broke them while playing. So, I started wearing contact lenses for more comfort.
The contact lenses had the advantage of unobstructed peripheral vision and the comfort of not having something heavy on my nose. I had the freedom to wear makeup, go out at night without worrying about glasses, and go to work comfortably. However, they came with the stress of proper cleanliness and maintenance. The worst part about contact lenses, though, was that they dried out my eyes a lot.
Even with the best quality and proper maintenance, my eyes were dry and red, especially by the end of the day. Working in an air-conditioned environment made the situation even more unbearable. So, I would take a break from the lenses and wear glasses (when they weren’t broken). These would then bother me, and I would end up back with the lenses, thus starting a vicious cycle of frustration with glasses and lenses.
Until one day, I went to “Optical Center” for new glasses because I was tired of my old frame. That’s where I always get my glasses and contacts, and the staff knows me and my history.
Orthokeratology as an Alternative Solution
For this reason, they suggested a new solution that would help me gradually get rid of both glasses and lenses. They proposed orthokeratology using contact lenses worn during sleep to reduce myopia, meaning in the morning, I wouldn’t need either glasses or lenses for the whole day.
At first, it sounded a bit unrealistic to me, like doing magic at night and everything being fine in the morning. Until then, I thought the solution to get rid of glasses was laser treatment, but that isn’t suitable for everyone and isn’t effective in all cases.
They explained the process with the Ortho-K lenses to me in great detail. They told me it doesn’t interfere with the eye like laser treatment, and at any time I wanted, I could return to glasses or lenses. It sounded very appealing, and I decided to give it a try. So, I didn’t order new glasses but scheduled an appointment for topography and optometry.
The Process with Ortho-K Contact Lenses
The First Meetings
The process with orthokeratology and the Ortho-K lenses started with the first appointment. There, we did an optometry test and corneal topography to see if my eyes and prescription were suitable for Ortho-K.
After everything was deemed appropriate, they showed me a sample of such a lens, and I had the opportunity to try it. The feeling was completely different from what I was used to with soft lenses. It bothered me in the first few minutes because it was thicker, but with my eyes closed, I didn’t feel it at all. So, we proceeded with the order.
I waited eagerly for about two weeks for my order to arrive. This is because it’s a very specialized construction made exclusively for my eyes, like tailoring a suit to fit you.
So, we scheduled a second appointment. There, they showed me in great detail and with great patience how to insert and remove the lenses. They explained how to clean and maintain them so that they stay in good condition since they are intended for annual replacement.
I took them home to wear them the night before I went to bed. Since I always watch a bit of television before sleeping, I thought I’d try it with these. I could see excellently with the lenses, but the thickness tickled me a lot every time I blinked. So, I turned off the TV and went to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up and could see! I was still wearing the lenses, of course. We had an appointment at the store at 10:00 to take them out together and do the next measurements. I can say they didn’t bother me or tickle much. I moved comfortably on the subway to the Optical Center.
When I took the lenses out there, I couldn’t see! The image wasn’t as bad as without glasses, but I couldn’t see as well as I expected. I won’t hide that I felt a bit disappointed. Of course, they had told me it would take about a week for everything to correct itself. From 4 diopters, my myopia had dropped to 2. They gave me a pair of daily lenses to get through the day.
The Following Days
The lenses didn’t bother me the second night, and I was able to watch TV again before going to sleep. The second morning, I took the lenses out myself, and my vision was satisfactory. Again, not perfect, but I could distinguish everything within the house. That’s how the following days continued.
Life with Ortho-K Contact Lenses
I have now been successfully wearing the lenses for four months. My personal and professional life has improved significantly. I no longer have the anxiety during the day of losing a lens or my glasses breaking. I also feel comfortable wearing them now. I am very happy that I trusted the optometrists at “Optical Center” and have definitely become a fan of orthokeratology. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for an alternative to glasses or regular contact lenses.
With love,
Elina
