WAKE WITH CLARITY
Bay Eye Care’s Alex Petty reveals life-changing technology that literally transforms how you see the world.
Bay Eye Care’s Alex Petty reveals life-changing technology that literally transforms how you see the world.
PHOTOS GARY MARSHALL AT BLUE CHILLI
Explaining Ortho-K to patients sounds a bit like something out of a sci-fi movie. You wear a custom lens while you sleep, and by morning your vision is clear. No glasses or contacts during the day, and no surgery needed.
Ortho-K can be a game-changer. Those who have vision problems suddenly have the freedom to swim in the sea, play sports and go to school or work, without worrying about their glasses or contact lenses.
Short for orthokeratology, it involves wearing a specially designed rigid lens overnight. While you sleep, the lens reshapes the front surface of your eye. When you take the lens out in the morning, the temporary reshaping allows you to see clearly all day. For many, that means they can ditch their glasses or contact lenses altogether.
I’ve been fitting these lenses for over 15 years. In fact, as I write this, I am just returning from a weekend conference in Australia lecturing and teaching other optometrists about Ortho-K. These days, I mostly fit these lenses to treat myopia (short-sightedness), but also for long sightedness, astigmatism and even presbyopia, which is that frustrating shift in vision that hits in your 40s or 50s when reading becomes difficult.
Around the world, we’re seeing a sharp increase in short sightedness developing in children. Right now, roughly 30 percent of the global population is myopic, and research suggests that could reach 50 percent by 2050. Much of it comes down to lifestyle, such as increased screen use, more time indoors and not enough exposure to natural light. But over the past decade, Ortho-K has been proven to slow myopia progression in children.
As myopia worsens, the risk of serious eye conditions like retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular degeneration increases significantly. That’s why we now monitor not just prescription, but actual eye growth. Ortho-K can help slow that down, so we’re protecting long-term eye health.
People are often curious about comfort. Since Ortho-K lenses are rigid, there’s an adjustment period, but because they're worn while sleeping, most people get used to them surprisingly quickly. Once it becomes part of your nightly routine, it feels normal. Long-time users often tell me they wouldn’t dream of going back to glasses.
Of course, it’s a commitment. This isn’t a one-time fix. It only works as long as you wear the lenses each night, but that’s also part of its strength. It’s completely reversible and flexible. If your eyes change, we adjust the lenses, which makes it great for growing children or adults who aren't ready to commit to permanent solutions like surgery. All you need to get started is an initial visit to discuss Ortho-K and check your eye health to see if Ortho-K is right for you.
I’ve had patients come in because a friend or co-worker raved about how much Ortho-K changed their life. It spreads by word of mouth, and for good reason. It’s about being able to live your life without constantly thinking about your eyes. For me, I believe that’s a gift worth sharing.