Orthokeratology at Northbridge Optical
Orthokeratology & Myopia Control
What is Myopia or Short-sightedness?
Myopia or short-sightedness is when the light focuses in front of the retina resulting in blurred vision. Myopia usually starts in childhood and progressively gets worse through adolescence. Generally, myopia progression stops by the late teens, however, sometimes myopia may continue to get worse into the mid or late-twenties.
People who are myopic typically have difficulty with seeing distant objects clearly. Generally, the signs of short-sightedness are quite obvious and can include things such as difficulty seeing the board at school, difficulty reading street signs, squinting when watching TV or even a decline in a child’s academic performance.
The prevalence of myopia is on a rise and is considered one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. A study conducted displayed a rise in myopia: In the 1970s, approximately 25% of citizens were short-sighted but by 2004, the myopia prevalence had increased to 42%. In addition, the epidemic of myopia progress appears to be higher in the Asian population: The Shanghai Children Eye Study revealed that the rate of short-sightedness increased from approximately 5% (6-years of age) to 52% (10-years of age) in 5 years, indicating an increase of approximately 10% per year.
What causes myopia development and progression?
There are few factors that can influence myopia progression, these include genetics, each individual’s characteristics and environment. Factors such as family history can have a significant influence in myopia progression. For example, if you have one parent who is myopic, your risk of being myopic increases by 3 times, if both parents are myopic, your risk of myopia progression increases by 6 times.
Additionally, individual factors such as refractive status, time spent outdoors and time in front of a screen will also influence myopia progression.
If there is a strong family history of myopia or excessive screen use, there may be a risk of myopia.At Northbridge Optical, our optometrist specialise in myopia control. If you believe that you or your child may be at risk of myopia progression, we recommend booking an appointment with our optometrist to discuss myopia control options.
What are the risks of myopia progression?
The onset of myopia at an early age can affect visual performance in the classroom. This may include things such as difficulty seeing the board at school, difficulty reading distant objects, squinting when watching TV or even a decline in a child’s academic performance.
Later in life, if not treated properly, high levels of myopia doubles the risk of serious ocular health problems such as retinal detachment, cataracts and glaucoma. These ocular health problems can lead to vision loss and blindness.
How can I reduce my chance of myopia progression?
If our optometrist believes that you are at risk of myopia progression, they may recommend some environmental changes. These changes may include:
Spend more time outside each day - natural sunlight has been proven to be beneficial for myopia control. However, it is important to still take proper sun protection precautions.
Regular breaks in front of the screen - taking a break every 30 minutes and looking at something in the distance to help the eyes relax
How does Orthokeratology work? How can orthokeratology help me?
Orthokeratology (ortho-K) is a Corneal Refractive Therapy using a custom designed contact lenses to achieve a temporary reduction in myopia. The lenses work by gently reshaping the cornea while you sleep. When you wake up, you will remove the lenses and be able to see clearly without spectacles or contact lenses during the day.
Orthokeratology is a great solution to a non-surgical optical for people who experience the struggles of short sightedness. Research has shown that children and adolescents who have had orthokeratology treatment are able to halt the rate of their myopia progression. Significant myopia progression can be prevented by performing orthokeratology during the ages when the fastest progression is occurring.
Am I suitable for Ortho-K?
To check whether you are eligible for orthokeratology, you should organise an appointment with an optometrist at Northbridge Optical. Your qualified optometrist will check your refraction, corneal base curve and corneal integrity to determine whether you will be a suitable candidate for orthokeratology.
Orthokeratology is not only recommended for myopia control, it also works great for those with an active lifestyle or those who want to be spectacle free.
What are the benefits of Orthokeratology?
Orthokeratology is not just a great way of control myopia, there are other benefits which may include
Being spectacle-free - OrthoK gives patients the freedom of being spectacle free during the day. This is a great option for those with an active lifestyle.
Comfort - as the lenses are designed to be worn at night, there will be no need for glasses contact lenses during the day time. If you are someone who suffers from dryness and irritation with daytime contact lenses, OrthoK may be a great option for you
Non-surgical - Orthokeratology provides a cost-effective non-surgical and reversible way to correct your myopia
Is Ortho-K safe? What are the risks of orthokeratology?
You might be wondering “is orthokeratology safe?” particularly for children. The short answer is yes, if fitted by a qualified professional. Like any contact lens, there is a small risk involved particularly if the lenses are not used properly. You must always carefully follow all instructions regarding the care and storage of your contact lens. If the proper schedule of care is followed, the risk of adverse effects or eye infections are very low. Currently, there are no serious adverse events reported in the Paragon CRT FDA clinical study.
Why choose us?
At Northbridge Optical, our optometrists are passionate about myopia control. Our Northbridge Optometrist are proud members of the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania. Our optometrists continue to undergo continuing education to ensure they are delivering the best results to their patients.
Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient and affordable option for myopia control.