Orthokeratology

Here at Johnson and Leatherbarrow Opticians we like to offer the latest specialist technology. We are also members of the European Academy of Orthokeratology which is dedicated to the advancement of this clinical procedure.

This form of correction is incredibly useful for:

“Orthokeratology is also used for myopia management.

  • People who dislike glasses

  • People who have a hard time wearing soft contact lenses

  • Sportswomen and Men

  • People who find contact lenses uncomfortable in challenging environments (VDU work, air conditioning, long distance driving…)

The lenses work by progressively flattening the cornea overnight, reducing the level of myopia so that you can see clearly without any correction through the day.

Interested? To be a good candidate for this type of correction you should…

  • Have regular sleep patterns and sleep ~7 hours a night (or more)

  • Be myopic with a prescription up to -6.00 dioptres – We can correct higher but the level of success drops the higher we go

  • Have a small amount or astigmatism or none at all – Again, we can correct higher levels but the success level is lower

  • No previous ocular surgery

The best thing you can do is to call us on 0161 905 1104 or take a trip into Sale and see one our lovely staff members. We can discuss your individual needs and decide if this is for you or not. Remember, unlike surgery this type of correction is completely reversible.

 

Schemes

We have two schemes for our orthokeratology patients. Our normal package is £45 per month and includes annual replacement lenses, eye examinations, solutions and all scans / monitoring. Our enhanced package is £50 and includes all of the above but the lenses are replaced every 6 months and we provide replacements each year should you lose lenses.

Myopia Control

Orthokeratology is a proven myopia management method. This is often the first option that we go to with our young patients who are progressing with their short sightedness.

Myopia Control

Levels of Myopia are rising rapidly. Whilst it may seem like a simple inconvenience of having to wear glasses or contact lenses to many, did you know that increased myopia is associated with potentially sight threatening conditions such as, myopic retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma and retinal detachment? The higher the myopia, the higher the risk.

Whilst there is no cure for myopia, we have come a long way to understanding how it develops. This has led the way to strategies that help slow the progression significantly.

We are one of a few Opticians in the UK who offer the latest myopia control daily disposable contact lenses from Coopervision - the MiSight lenses. Click here for the dedicated section on MiSight. We also offer the latest lens design to come from America -the VTI Naturalvue.

Alongside our soft contact lens options we are experts in Orthokeratology, and members of the European Orthokeratology Society.

Not only does Orthokeratology help by slowing down the progression of myopia, it also corrects the vision of your child. All this is done whilst they sleep, meaning that you’re in full control rather than sending them to school with soft contact lenses in.

If you’re interested in myopia control it’s best to begin by calling us on 0161 905 1104 or taking a trip to our practice to discuss further.

Irregular Corneal Disease (Such as Keratoconus)

This change in corneal shape causes large changes to the prescription in many cases which cannot be corrected for comfortably with glasses alone.

Keratoconus causes symptoms of visual distortion, streaking, and ghosting. Also it can cause light sensitivity. Typically this condition is diagnosed in teenage years and can progress into a patient’s late 20’s-30’s.

The exact cause for keratoconus is unknown, but there have been some genetic and environmental links.

 

SPECIALIST FITTING PROCESS

In most cases, specialist contact lenses can be used to correct the optical (refractive) error caused by the corneal shape changes. For patients who are unsuitable for contact lenses, there are surgical options such as a corneal graft.

Specialist contact lens fitting usually provides much better vision quality than can be achieved with glasses but specialist lens types should be used which are specifically designed for keratoconus.

There are multiple lens options available. The most common option is a rigid gas permeable contact lens. These can be tricky at first to wear as initially there can be some discomfort. This discomfort improves with time and the benefit to your vision will in most cases outweigh the initial discomfort experienced. Depending on your type of keratoconus there are soft lenses available but the visual results are generally less satisfactory than with rigid lenses. These lenses are mainly fitted within the Hospital Eye Service as they have specialist optometrists who are trained in the fitting of this design of lens.

Rebecca, our specialist optometrist, has worked for the Hospital Eye Service for 5 years and has had a lot of experience fitting these lenses. If you would like to be seen privately for this fitting, you can book an appointment with us.