Corneal Reshaping

Corneal Reshaping, Orthokeratology or CKR, is a non-invasive, non-surgical, reversible kerato refractive procedure approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA.) Orthokeratology is for people of any age who are near-sighted. The FDA has approved the procedure for people with up to six diopters of myopia and up to -1.75 of Astigmatism. The procedures can be performed on practically any one of any age as long as their eyes are healthy. Ortho-k holds particular appeal for people who participate in sports or who work in dusty, dirty environments that can cause problems for regular contact lenses. Because Ortho-k offers similar benefits to lasik, it is also appealing to adolescents and teens who are not eligible for LASIK.

What Results Can You Expect from Ortho-k (CKR)?

Eye care professionals usually aim for 20/20 vision, but 20/40 vision (the legal minimum for driving in most of the U.S.) is typically considered acceptable. In the FDA clinical study, 93% of patients achieved 20/32 vision or better and 67% percent achieved 20/20 or better.

What to Expect When You Begin

The eye doctor will begin by measuring the curvatures of your corneas using an instrument called a corneal topographer--a painless procedure that takes about a minute and produces a topographical map of your eye's surface. After the diagnostic session, your doctor will order the lenses from the lab.

How Long Does Ortho-k (CKR) Take?

Patients with two to three diopters of myopia should have functional vision the next morning after wearing the contact lenses. Patients will need to wear the lenses while they sleep to maintain the desired corrected vision. Discontinuing lens wear altogether allows your corneas to gradually regress to their original shape or close to it.

Is Ortho-k (CKR) Comfortable?

Some people have comfort issues with daytime wear of GP contact lenses (also known as RGP or "oxygen permeable" lenses), which are used for ortho-k. With GP's, a sensation of lens awareness can result from interaction of the eyelid with the edge of the lens during blinking. (This doesn't happen with soft lenses because they are larger and remain tucked under the eyelids.) But since ortho-k lenses are worn during sleep, blinking and lens awareness are generally not a problem.

How does it Work?

Myopia (nearsightedness) is caused by light coming into the eye in such a way that it doesn't focus properly on the retina. Typically, this problem is corrected by using eyeglasses or regular contact lenses to re-focus the light rays. A similar result can be achieved by reshaping your cornea. LASIK is a surgical way to do this. Ortho-k contact lenses flatten your cornea without surgery, enabling light to focus properly on your retina, resulting in better vision.