Many parents first hear about orthokeratology, or ortho-k, when a child’s glasses prescription keeps getting stronger every year. Ortho-k uses rigid, gas-permeable contact lenses worn only while sleeping. Overnight, the lenses gently reshape the front of the cornea. In the morning the child takes them out and, for many, sees clearly through the school day without glasses.
Why parents ask about it
Nearsightedness (myopia) usually gets worse as the eye grows too long from front to back. The bigger question is whether a treatment can slow that growth. In a technology assessment reviewed for currency in 2024, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s pediatric panel looked at 13 studies. In those studies, ortho-k typically reduced the eye’s growth in length by about 50% over two years, roughly 0.3 mm compared with 0.6 mm in children wearing regular glasses or daytime lenses. That difference corresponds to about half a diopter of prescription.
What the evidence also says
- Starting age matters. The panel found the effect may be greater when ortho-k starts early, around ages 6 to 8.
- The effect is temporary. If lens wear stops, the cornea goes back to its original shape, and some rebound in eye growth can happen.
- Infection risk is real. The panel listed safety as a concern because of the risk of microbial keratitis, a potentially blinding infection of the cornea, from contact lens wear.
- Most studies were in children of Asian ethnicity, so results may vary in other groups.
Making ortho-k as safe as possible
- Never rinse or store lenses in tap water, and never let them touch water from pools, the ocean or a shower.
- Wash and dry hands before every insertion and removal.
- Use only the cleaning and storage solution you are given, fresh every night.
- Keep every follow-up visit. Ortho-k needs more checkups than ordinary contact lenses.
- Red eye, pain, or light sensitivity means take the lenses out and call the same day.
Other options to ask about
Ortho-k is one of several approaches. Others include special myopia-control glasses, daytime soft multifocal lenses and low-dose atropine drops. A pediatric eye exam is the right place to compare them for your child.
Questions about contact lenses for your family? Call our Westlake Village office at (805) 230-2126.
Source: Use of Orthokeratology for the Prevention of Myopic Progression in Children (American Academy of Ophthalmology Ophthalmic Technology Assessment). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.