Categories Eye Care, Lenses, Vision

8 Benefits of Ortho-K for Children That Parents Shouldn’t Miss

Ortho-K, a type of rigid contact lens worn at night and removed in the morning, is known for temporarily eliminating refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) throughout the day. Recognized by the FDA for its effectiveness in controlling myopia progression in children, Ortho-K offers more than just vision correction. Here are 8 benefits that parents shouldn’t overlook:

1. Controlling Myopia Progression:

FDA-verified effectiveness in controlling myopia progression in young children, crucial as their eyes are still developing.

2. Eliminating Discomfort of Regular Glasses:

Children are free from the discomfort of wearing glasses for extended periods, preventing nose imprints and discomfort.

3. Comfortable Physical Activity:

Allows children to engage in sports and physical activities comfortably without the hindrance of daytime glasses.

4. Boosting Confidence in Communication:

Provides clear vision, eliminating obstacles in communication and helping children react promptly in various situations.

5. Uninterrupted Learning:

Ensures children can see the board or screen clearly, promoting a seamless learning experience without hindrances.

6. Freedom to Observe Surroundings:

Allows children to freely explore, observe, and learn from their surroundings without the limitations of glasses.

7. Self-Confidence Appearance:

Boosts children’s confidence by offering them freedom from thick glasses, promoting a dynamic lifestyle.

8. Convenient Riding in the Rain:

Provides peace of mind for parents as children can confidently ride in the rain without the hindrance of fogged-up glasses.

Contact Us:

Love the way your child sees with Ortho-K – contact us at +65 6244 4420 or click here for further inquiries.

Categories Eye Care, Lenses, Vision

Tips to Care For Your Ortho-K Lenses

Caring for your Ortho-K lenses is crucial to maximize the benefits of this vision treatment and avoid complications. Here are 5 handy tips for safe and effective lens care:

1. Cleaning:

  • Use a specialized cleaning solution provided by your optometry team.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before handling lenses.
  • Gently massage the cleaning solution on both surfaces for at least one minute.

2. Rinsing:

  • Thoroughly rinse off the cleaning solution using a sterile saline solution.
  • Ensure no residue remains to prevent eye irritation.

3. Storing:

  • Fill the case with a soaking solution after cleaning the lenses.
  • Air dry the case after each use in a clean, non-irritating environment.
  • Replace the case every 2-3 months for optimal cleanliness.

4. Insertion and Removal:

  • Wear Ortho-K lenses while asleep to reshape the cornea.
  • Follow the cleaning and storing steps upon waking up for evening wear.
  • Avoid wearing lenses for extended periods while awake to prevent discomfort.

5. Follow-Up Visits:

  • Your optometry team will monitor your eye health with follow-up appointments.
  • Regular eye exams every 6-12 months ensure the lenses are effective and your eyes remain healthy.

By following these simple yet crucial tips, you can maintain your Ortho-K lenses effectively, ensuring optimal vision correction and eye health.

Contact Us:

Love the way your child sees with Ortho-K – contact us at +65 6244 4420 or click here for further inquiries.

Categories Eye Care, Lenses, Vision

Ortho-K: Sleeping in Contact Lenses Safely

Discover the convenience of clear vision throughout the day with contact lenses that work while you sleep. Orthokeratology, commonly known as Ortho-K, offers a well-established treatment plan for vision correction, providing the freedom from glasses or contact lenses during waking hours. Custom-designed rigid contact lenses are worn overnight, and upon removal in the morning, immediate vision improvement is evident.

Ortho-K is suitable for most prescriptions, with a predominant use in children and teenagers to slow the progression of shortsightedness or myopia. Studies indicate its effectiveness, showing up to a 60-80% reduction in progression, positioning it as a leading intervention for managing myopia in younger individuals.

The lenses function by gently reshaping the cornea, the front structure of the eye. This reshaping is temporary and reversible upon discontinuation. When worn consistently, these lenses can serve as an effective treatment over many years.

Parents can rest easily when their child uses Ortho-K

Ortho-k utilizes rigid gas permeable lenses that allow oxygen to reach your child’s eyes so that the eyes remain healthy. Ortho-k lenses safely and effectively work while your child sleeps, temporarily providing clear vision during your child’s waking hours, and slowing the progression of myopia.

As long as your child handles the lenses according to the instructions of our optometrist and observes hygiene protocols when using them (washing hands first, using only the designated solutions to clean and rinse the lenses, etc.), ortho-k lenses can be safely used.

Contact Us:

Love the way your child sees with Ortho-k – contact us at +65 6244 4420 or click here to for further inquiries.

Categories Eye Care, Lenses

Using speciality spectacles lenses for myopia control treatment

In 2019, this teenager (now 16 years old) was identified as a fast progressing myopia patient. We suggested myopia management to their parents to potentially slow down its likely advancement and they decided to start his myopia control treatment using speciality spectacles lenses.

What made this situation concerning?

The issue here lies in the fact that a higher prescription level is more than just a mere inconvenience of impaired vision without corrective lenses. All cases of myopia, particularly those at higher levels, are associated with a heightened risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life, such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, and cataracts. In fact, each increase in myopia by one dioptre escalates the risk of myopic macular degeneration by 67%.

Our goal with myopia management is to decelerate the progression of myopia in children and young adults. This is achieved through lifestyle modifications, utilizing specialized contact lenses, and opting for custom-designed spectacle lenses. While complete cessation of myopia progression is unlikely, these measures can significantly reduce its pace.

Specialised lenses

So when this teenager myopia increased drastically in 2019, we suggested to his parents to start his myopia control treatment using speciality spectacles lenses. Whilst the glasses look exactly as they would with standard lenses, these lenses slow the progression of myopia by up to 60%. The statistics on the glasses lenses were strong, so we were keen to see the results for ourselves with our own patients.

The positive outcomes

The results have been encouraging. After nearly tree years of monitoring, Our young patient’s myopic progression has substantially slowed. Measurements of his eyes’ axial length, a key indicator of myopia progression, have shown stability, indicating the effectiveness of the prescribed eyewear.

If myopia is left unmanaged, it typically worsens, potentially leading to a medium to high prescription level (-4 to -8) by adulthood.

As expected, the family is extremely pleased with the outcome. With this case, the opportunity to lessen the rate of myopia in their children is a significant relief, something they hadn’t thought feasible. Unlike the past, particularly in the 80s and 90s when myopia was often left to progress unchecked, today, we have various options available, including soft lenses, overnight lenses, and specially designed spectacles, offering a chance to alter this trend.

Contact Us:

Love the way your child sees with speciality spectacles lenses. – contact us at +65 6244 4420 or click here to for further inquiries.