Ortho-K for children, ages 7–18
Your child sleeps in highly oxygen-permeable, semi-soft lenses. In the morning, they take them out and see clearly. Ortho-K slows nearsightedness as children grow, and for children with a family history of nearsightedness it is the best option for effective control.
Night
Is your child’s prescription going up every year?
Nearsightedness often gets worse during the school years. Stronger glasses fix the blur, but they don’t slow the change.
How Ortho-K works
Morning
Full eye exam and a map of the eye
Custom lenses made for your child
Wear at night. See clearly all day.
Your treatment, step by step
- 1
Screening
You fill in a full medical history form, and we measure your child’s eyes with computerized refraction.
- 2
Full eye exam
A slit-lamp exam and a dilated eye exam. Dr. Woo talks with you about your needs and sets the direction of treatment.
- 3
Your results
You go over the report with our consultant and settle the treatment plan and fees.
- 4
Getting ready
Dilating drops or lenses custom-designed for your child, and lessons in eye and lens hygiene.
- 5
Treatment begins
The correction phase lasts three to six months, with routine checks to adjust the lenses.
- 6
Treatment completed
We book regular follow-up visits to keep track of your child’s eyes.
Our services
Complete eye health exams
- Children’s eye care
- Light-wave imaging to measure the eye’s length
- Myopia tracking
- Treatment for strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye) in young children
Myopia correction
- Ortho-K: orthokeratology lenses worn while your child sleeps
- Atropine: customized myopia management
- Flipper vision therapy: eye-muscle training
Dry eye evaluation and treatment, for children and adults
- Tear film stability test
- Flushing the tear ducts and under the eyelids
- Tear duct blockage procedure
We work with EyeMed Vision Care, MES Vision, and Allied Physicians IPA. Easy interest-free payment plans are available.
Wearing Ortho-K lenses: tips from our office
Common while your eyes adjust
- Halos or glare at night
- Blinking more often
- Discomfort from dust or tissue fibers in the eye
- Take the lens out and clean it again.
- A lens that moves off center, from rubbing the eyes or moving them quickly
- A lens that slides up or down
- Keep your eyes open, look down or up to find the lens, and take it out.
- Itchy eyes
- Don’t rub your eyes. Use the corneal care drops for quick relief.
- Place a tissue dampened with water or ice water over the eyes.
How to keep eye infections away
- Always wash your hands before putting in or taking out the lenses, so germs on your hands don’t get onto the lenses.
- Don’t pour lens-care solution into other bottles, and replace your lens-care supplies regularly.
- Keep the bathroom sink dry and clean.
- Two things to keep in your pocket: moisturizing eye drops and lip balm. When your lips feel dry, your body is starting to run short of water. Remember to drink plenty of water!
- Keep the cornea moist to help fight off germs.
- Never rub your eyes.
- Wear sunglasses that block blue light when you go out.
- After swimming, always use the corneal care drops to moisten the cornea and help it recover.
- If the eyes look red or bloodshot, stop wearing the lenses right away, rest, and call us.
The lenses we fit
We fit VIPOK, CRT, Abiliti, and other Ortho-K lenses.
Parent questions
Is Ortho-K safe for kids?
Ortho-K is a safe choice for children when an eye doctor fits the lenses and your family cares for them exactly as instructed. Like any contact lens worn overnight, it carries a small risk of eye infection, which can be serious. You can keep that risk low by washing your hands before touching the lenses; cleaning and storing them only with the solutions we give you, never with tap water; replacing the case and lenses on schedule; and coming to every follow-up visit so Dr. Woo can check your child’s eyes. If your child has eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, discharge, or blurry vision that doesn’t clear, take the lenses out and call us right away at (800) 991-8881.
What age can my child start?
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Is it hard for kids to put in the lenses?
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How much does it cost?
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Book a consultation
Book online, or give us a call.