Back to School with Clearer Vision: Could Ortho-K Help Your Child?
As children get ready to head back to school, parents are thinking about uniforms, shoes, stationery and everything else needed for the new term.
But there is one thing that can easily be overlooked: their vision.
If your child is short-sighted and relies on glasses or contact lenses, Ortho-K could offer a very different way to manage their vision — one that can be especially appealing for busy school days.
What if they could see clearly all day without glasses?
This is often the part that surprises parents and children most.
With Ortho-K, specially designed contact lenses are worn while your child sleeps.
They are removed in the morning, and the effect of the lenses allows many suitable wearers to see clearly throughout the day without needing glasses or daytime contact lenses.
It often takes a few seconds for people to take that in:
They sleep in the lenses, take them out in the morning, and can then see clearly at school throughout the day.
More freedom for the school day
For an active child, being less dependent on glasses during the day can make a real difference.
Think about everything that happens during a normal school week:
- PE lessons
- Football, rugby or netball
- Swimming
- Running around at break time
- After-school clubs
- School trips
- Reading from the board
- Moving between classrooms
Glasses can sometimes become inconvenient during sport and active play, while daytime contact lenses are not always the preferred option for younger children.
Ortho-K provides another possibility.
A non-surgical approach
One of the biggest advantages of Ortho-K is the freedom it can provide without laser eye surgery.
The lenses gently and temporarily reshape the front surface of the eye overnight to help correct short-sighted vision during the day.
There is no permanent surgical reshaping of the eye, and the effect is maintained by continuing to wear the lenses as prescribed.
Ortho-K can also play a role in myopia management
For children, Ortho-K is not only about being free from glasses during the school day.
It can also form part of a myopia management programme.
Myopia, or short-sightedness, often begins during childhood and can continue to progress as the eye grows.
For suitable children, specially designed Ortho-K lenses may help slow the progression of myopia while also providing clear daytime vision.
That makes Ortho-K particularly interesting for parents who want to consider both their child’s vision today and their longer-term eye health.
Is your child suitable for Ortho-K?
Ortho-K is not suitable for every child, which is why a professional assessment is important.
At Eye Clinic Opticians, we can assess your child’s prescription, corneal shape, eye health and individual needs before discussing whether Ortho-K is an appropriate option.
We will also explain how the lenses are inserted, removed and cleaned, and provide ongoing reviews to monitor both vision and eye health.
Start the new school year seeing things differently
A new school year is a great opportunity to make sure your child’s vision is giving them the best possible start.
And for some children, Ortho-K could mean something quite remarkable:
Put the lenses in at bedtime.
Sleep.
Take them out in the morning.
Head to school seeing clearly.
If your child is short-sighted, speak to the team at Eye Clinic Opticians and find out whether Ortho-K could be right for them this back-to-school season.
For more information about myopia (short-sightedness), you can visit the NHS website for further guidance.
Contact your nearest Eye Clinic Practice:
Elm Park | Edward Watts Shenfield | Harold Hill | Harold Wood | Wickford