Ortho-k: An overnight success? (C-100426)
31 October 2019
Autumn 2019
John Windell asks whether more practices should consider adding the specially designed night-time RGP lenses to their portfolios.
Domains covered
Communication
Clinical practice
Orthokeratology temporarily reshapes the anterior surface of the cornea, using specially designed rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses that are worn overnight. Some optometrists in the UK have been offering ortho-k for a long time, among them Charles Babumba MCOptom, Consultant Optometrist at City Eyes in London. “I first offered ortho-k almost 19 years ago,” he says. “I was attracted to it for several reasons. It’s non-surgical and it’s reversible. It’s very useful for managing myopia.”
Brian Tompkins FCOptom, Managing Director at Tompkins Knight & Son Optometrists in Northampton, was another early adopter. “We’ve been providing ortho-k for 16 years. I didn’t really have to think about it, because I could see that it gives a multitude of benefits.”
A more recent convert is Bhavin Shah MCOptom of Central Vision Opticians in London, who began offering ortho-k lenses to his patients at the end of last year. “The myopia control really interested me, which is the main group of patients I use ortho-k with.” It is necessary to add that children respond differently to myopia management and the effect cannot in fact be guaranteed.
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