Orthokeratology (also known as Ortho-K) contact lenses are a safe and established method of correcting vision. It works by wearing a custom designed rigid contact lens overnight to gently reshape the cornea. The lenses essentially act like a mould (think of a retainer for your teeth) that flattens the central part of the cornea. This temporarily changes the power of your natural eye’s lens system, giving the wearer clear vision without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
✔ Non-surgical, reversible vision correction
✔ Custom-fit overnight lenses
✔ Effective Myopia Control for children
✔ Great for an active lifestyle and sports
✔ Clear vision all day without glasses
Ortho-K may actually be beneficial for you compared to more conventional daytime contact lens wear if:
- You suffer from ocular allergies (itchy eyes).
- Have dry, red or irritated eyes associated with daytime contact lens wear.
- Have progressing myopia (short-sightedness).
- You do a lot of swimming and/or water sports.
- You work in very dusty or smoky environments
For children, teenagers and young adults, Orthokeratology can be used as a tool to help control myopia (short-sightedness). For more information on Myopia Control click here, or get in touch with the team here.
Why Choose East Vision?
- We use only the most up to date lens technology.
- Completely custom lens designs.
- Years of experience.
- Personalised care and service from a local family owned business.
- Child-friendly clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
Note: All our final ortho k pricing quotes are given once we know exactly what is required after your initial assessment.
If you are just after a rough guide, you can usually expect between $1600 and $2000 for new fits.
What’s Included?:
- 2x custom orthokeratology contact lenses.
- A complete fitting adjustment warranty for each lens, just in case any adjustments are needed.
- An all inclusive consultation fee that covers you for all the appointments required to complete the fitting process (no maximum).
- No hidden surprises!
Price could be lower if:
- Only one lens is needed.
- You are an experienced current ortho-k wearer (less chair time = less fees).
Price could be slightly higher if:
- It is a more complex fitting that we know may require more time (eg. large/ atypical prescriptions, post-refractive surgery).
Why can the Ortho k pricing vary so much?
Some of the factors that can effect the overall cost are:
- Patient prescription (far sighted/ short sighted? A little or a lot? Astigmatism too?)
- Patient’s eye (Corneal shape and size. Any corneal irregularities? Any underlying ocular surface disease that may need parallel treatment/ management?)
- Correction type (Distance vision only? Need a bit of reading help/ support also? Adult/ Teenager/ Child? Myopia Control?)
- Prior or current Ortho-K use? Just need a re-fit?
In our many years of experience, fitting Ortho-K is not a “one size fits all” service.
Additionally, at East Vision Optometry we don’t just use one supplier, each has their own pros and cons for certain patients. Some of them are cheaper and some are dearer. We strive to keep our pricing better VALUE than the industry average.
Am I suitable for Ortho-K?
It is important to note that not every person, prescription or eye may be suitable for overnight vision correction. Don’t worry, this is part of our process! We will always do a complete and thorough general eye test before making any plans to proceed. This includes a full vision test, corneal topography and a full ocular health assessment (both front and back of eye).
Once we have a full picture of your prescription, eye health and visual needs we can more accurately predict if you are likely to have a good outcome or not with overnight vision correction lenses. We try and make sure you have all the information upfront and in advance of you investing time and money into an Ortho-K correction.
What is the Process?
The process outlined here is meant to be just an example of typical new Ortho-K fitting. Some situations can be a simpler process and some more advanced fittings may be a bit more involved. But this should give you a good idea.
1. Schedule an initial consultation. The purpose of this appointment is to have a full comprehensive test of your eye health and prescription, we also take some extra scans that are ortho-k specific. This needs to be done even if you have had a recent eye test elsewhere. At this appointment we can discuss the best options for you, make sure it is right for you, give you an exact and full price, and potentially then go ahead with ordering the lenses and scheduling the fitting. The cost of this initial consultation is just our normal consultation fees and medicare rebates can apply. Just make sure you let us know you are interested in Ortho-K when booking the appointment.
2. If you decide to proceed, the lenses take around 2 weeks to be made and then arrive in practice.
3. At the initial fitting appointment we fit the lenses to your eye, teach you how to use the lenses, and explain all the do’s and don’ts.
4. We typically then schedule a time to start actually using the lenses and we like to monitor you closely through the first month or so with reviews potentially at day 1, week 1 and week
5. Our prices include all the appointments we need to complete the fitting process, so if you need a few extra appointments it does not cost you more.
The whole process can be pretty quick and we can potentially get you into the lenses and seeing very well only 3 weeks after your initial appointment. The fitting process is also very flexible and can be designed to work around school holidays or a long weekend to help minimise disruption to work patterns.
What about Ortho-k for Children?
Ortho-k can and has been used for children for a long time now. Here is some general information.
Advantages for Children:
- Non-invasive and reversible vision correction.
- Improves compliance to full time prescription correction needed for effective myopia control.
- Supports active lifestyles and sports participation.
- Psychological benefits/ Improved self-confidence.
- Enhanced social interactions.
Age Considerations:
- Recommended age range, most effective for children ages 8 and up.
- Best results seen in children with mild to moderate myopia (-1.00 to -5.00 diopters).
- Early intervention can potentially slow myopia progression more effectively.
Safety and Professional Oversight:
Important Considerations
- Requires an experienced pediatric eye care professional.
- More regular follow-up appointments often needed.
- Precise lens fitting.
- Strict hygiene protocols with often parental involvement in lens care and maintenance.
Potential Risks
- Similar risk profile to traditional contact lens wear.
- Increased infection risk if hygiene is not maintained.
If you want clear vision without spectacles or contact lenses, why not do laser refractive surgery?
You can! They are both good options. Main differences to be aware of:
- Orthokeratology is not as invasive or expensive as laser refractive surgery.
- Orthokeratology is also completely reversible, unlike refractive surgery.
- Orthokeratology lenses can change if your vision changes.
- Over a certain age, we can manipulate your correction to help you stay reading glasses free!
It is important to note also, you are generally excluded from being able to have refractive laser surgery if your prescription is actively changing. This is not a problem for Ortho-K.
