Control Myopia While You Sleep

All of us who wear glasses know how uncomfortable they can be at times. They get in the way, they fog up, they leave marks on our noses... That's why many of us combine wearing glasses with contact lenses. Contact lenses offer us the freedom we don't have with glasses. We can run without fear of them falling out, we can play sports without the limitations of our field of vision caused by the frames of our glasses, we can jump, swim, play, etc., without hindrance.

However, wearing contact lenses doesn't mean you have complete freedom throughout the day, as they sometimes move around and cause discomfort, dry out, and consequently impede clear vision. Currently, there is a method for correcting ametropia that allows us to maintain good vision without having to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day. This method is known as orthokeratology (Ortho-K) and is a safe and reversible treatment that modifies the cornea to correct and control myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. Although satisfactory results can currently be achieved for all of these refractive errors, Ortho-K was initially conceived for the treatment of myopia, which can achieve greater success.

It is performed with special rigid contact lenses worn while sleeping, allowing clear vision all day long. These lenses create corneal molding, i.e., a redistribution of the tissue in the outermost layer of the cornea while the patient sleeps. By removing the lenses in the morning upon waking, the patient will have good vision all day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. As the day progresses, the cornea will return to its normal shape.

Ortho-K is a good treatment option, but it's not suitable for everyone. It's primarily indicated for correcting myopia up to 5 diopters, hyperopia up to 3 diopters, and astigmatism less than 1.50 diopters. Higher prescriptions can be corrected, but the full effect is highly unlikely, and consequently, the vision achieved may not be as desired.

With Orthokeratology, we can not only eliminate the need to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day, but it has also been shown to be beneficial in children and adolescents in slowing the progression of myopia. This has increased significantly in recent years, and it is believed that by 2050, half the population will be myopic due to environmental and educational factors in today's society. For this reason, several scientific studies are investigating Orthokeratology and myopia control with the aim of improving methods for preventing it.