Orthokeratology (ortho-k) is a key part of our myopia management program and specialty contact lens services. As Eye Rx’s flagship medical and specialty contact lens centre, we use ortho-k to support clear daytime vision while helping slow myopia progression in many children and teens.
What Is Ortho-K?
Orthokeratology (often called ortho-k) uses specially designed rigid contact lenses worn only while sleeping. These lenses gently reshape the front surface of the eye overnight.
In the morning, your child removes the lenses and can usually see clearly throughout the day without glasses or daytime contacts. When ortho-k is discontinued, the cornea gradually returns to its original shape, which is why ongoing wear and follow-up are important.
Why Eye Rx — Chevy Chase for Ortho-K?
Our Chevy Chase office is the primary Specialty Contact Lens Center for Eye Rx, with dedicated expertise in ortho-k, scleral lenses, EyePrint Pro, and medically necessary contact lenses. Patients are frequently referred here from other locations and outside providers for advanced fittings and long-term management.
Because myopia management is a core service at this location, ortho-k is always considered in the context of your child’s overall eye health, axial growth, and long-term risk.
How Ortho-K Helps with Myopia
Ortho-k lenses are designed not only to correct vision but also to change how light focuses in the peripheral retina, which research suggests can help slow the eye’s lengthening in many children. This can reduce how quickly prescriptions increase over time.
At Eye Rx — Chevy Chase, we combine ortho-k with careful monitoring, including detailed prescription checks and imaging when indicated, so we can see how your child’s eyes are responding over months and years.
Who May Be a Candidate for Ortho-K?
Ortho-k can be a strong option for children or teens with mild to moderate myopia whose prescription is changing regularly, who are motivated (with family support) to care for lenses properly, and who would benefit from glasses-free vision for school, activities, or sports.
We also consider factors such as corneal shape, ocular surface health, hygiene habits, and your child’s ability to follow instructions. Some prescriptions or health conditions may be better suited to other myopia management tools, such as specialty soft lenses or Stellest® glasses.
What to Expect from an Ortho-K Evaluation
An ortho-k visit at Eye Rx - Chevy Chase includes a detailed myopia management consultation. We’ll review your child’s prescription history, examine the health of the front and back of the eye, and take precise measurements with corneal topography and Pentacam imaging to map the cornea.
If your child is a good candidate, we’ll design custom ortho-k lenses based on these measurements. Once lenses arrive, we’ll schedule a fitting and training visit to teach insertion, removal, and care, taking as much time as your child needs to feel comfortable and confident.
Follow-Up and Safety
Follow-up is not optional with ortho-k; it’s part of safe, effective treatment. We typically see ortho-k patients the morning after their first night of wear, then at intervals recommended by the doctor to monitor fit, vision, and corneal health.
We’ll talk through lens care routines, hygiene, and what to do if your child experiences discomfort, redness, or changes in vision between visits. If ortho-k ever stops being the right choice, we’ll help you transition to another myopia management option.
Ortho-K within a Larger Myopia Plan
Because Eye Rx - Chevy Chase offers multiple myopia management tools, including specialty soft lenses and Stellest® glasses, we can adapt your child’s plan as they grow. Sometimes ortho-k is the first step; other times, it becomes part of a combined or staged approach.
Questions Families Commonly Ask About Ortho-K
Is Ortho-K safe for children? When lenses are fit by an experienced provider, handled with good hygiene, and supported by regular follow-up, ortho-k is considered a safe option for appropriate candidates.
Will my child still need glasses later in life? Myopia management aims to slow progression, not completely stop it. Many children who use ortho-k will still need some form of correction as adults, but the goal is to reduce how high the prescription ultimately becomes and, in turn, lower associated risks.
How quickly will we see results? Most children notice improved daytime vision within the first few nights of wear, with refinement over the first weeks. The myopia-control effect is monitored over a longer period through prescription and growth changes.
If your child’s nearsightedness is increasing, or if you’re looking for an option that combines glasses-free daytime vision with proactive myopia management, our team is here to help. Schedule a myopia consultation at Eye Rx - Chevy Chase and ask whether ortho-k is right for your child.