Does Orthokeratology Work for Adults? 

When it comes to improving your eyesight, there are many options to consider today. Some of the most popular options include LASIK surgery and contact lenses. But you may be surprised to know that there’s another alternative method that’s becoming increasingly popular among adults: orthokeratology.

Read on as a Broomfield, CO optometrist talks about orthokeratology, how it works, and the many benefits this treatment has to offer.

What Causes Nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, happens when the cornea (the clear cover over the iris) is too curved for the length of the eyeball. This condition causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. When this happens, faraway objects or scenes appear blurry. 

Myopia is the most common vision problem, affecting more than 40 percent of Americans. And to add insult to injury, this condition typically gets worse with time, even in adults.

What Is Orthokeratology?

Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K is an FDA-approved treatment that reshapes your cornea to correct nearsightedness without surgery. It works by using specially designed contact lenses to temporarily flatten or reshape your cornea so that light rays focus properly on your retina to provide clear vision without glasses or contacts.

Ortho-K lenses are worn at night and removed every morning. This means you can go without glasses or contacts throughout the day. As long as you wear them nightly, you won’t have to wear corrective eyewear during the day ever again!

What Conditions Do Ortho-K Lenses Treat?

Corneal imperfections can cause other types of eye problems besides nearsightedness. For this reason, orthokeratology can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Astigmatism—when your cornea has an irregular curvature, causing blurred vision
• Hyperopia—when you have trouble seeing objects at a distance because they appear blurry
• Farsightedness
• Presbyopia—an inability to focus on close objects due to aging
• Altered corneas due to injury or trauma
• Keratoconus—when your cornea has a cone-like shape, causing distorted vision 
• Abrasions and scratches on the surface of your eye

Benefits of Orthokeratology for Adults

So what are the benefits of orthokeratology for adults?

• No surgery or anesthesia
• Minimal discomfort and risk
• Fast results 
• Freedom from glasses or contacts 
• No more contact lens solutions and cases to worry about 
• No more worrying about losing your glasses or contacts while playing sports 
• No more hassle with having to remove your eyewear before showering, or exercising   
• If you’re interested in learning more about orthokeratology for adults, please don’t hesitate to call our 

If you have more questions or wish to schedule a consultation, please feel free to call our Broomfield, CO optometry office anytime!