What is Orthokeratology?

Want clear vision during the day without glasses? Orthokeratology (or OrthoK) is a non-surgical, reversible vision correction method using specially designed contact lenses that gently reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea) while you sleep. These lenses are removed each morning, leaving you with clear vision during the day—without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Who is OrthoK suitable for? 

Vision freedom for active lives—and growing eyes

OrthoK is a great option for people who want clear daytime vision without relying on glasses or daytime contact lenses. It’s especially ideal for:

• Children and teens with progressing myopia
• People who play contact or water sports
• Adults working in dusty or dry environments
• Anyone who experiences dry or irritated eyes with soft contact lenses
• People who want freedom from glasses but are not ready for laser surgery yet... it's completely reversible so going back to glasses or having laser surgery is still a future option

Because OrthoK lenses are only worn while sleeping, there’s no risk of losing a lens during sport or school—and no need to juggle glasses during the day. That’s one reason why OrthoK is one of the most effective and popular options for slowing myopia progression in children.

To be suitable for OrthoK, your eyes must be in good health. Our optometrists will assess your prescription, corneal shape, lifestyle, and eye health to determine if OrthoK is the right choice for you or your child.

How does OrthoK work?  

Clear vision while you sleep

Orthokeratology lenses gently reshape the front surface of your eye—the cornea—overnight. While you sleep, the lens uses gentle hydraulic forces created by your tear film to redistribute corneal cells into a new shape. 

Think of OrthoK like wearing a ring on your finger. After wearing a ring for a long period of time the tissue under your skin will have adjusted to the shape of the ring. However, if you take your ring off again after a while the skin returns to normal - exactly how it was previously.  

Immediate results, reversible changes

Most people notice clearer vision after just one night of lens wear, with significant improvement typically achieved within the first week. For higher prescriptions (e.g. over -5.00D), it may take up to 2–4 weeks for vision to fully stabilise. Importantly, OrthoK does not cause any permanent changes to your eyes. If you stop wearing your lenses, your vision will gradually return to its original prescription over the course of a few days to weeks. 

Comfort and safety

Although OrthoK lenses are firm to the touch, most patients find them very comfortable, especially since they’re worn with your eyes closed during sleep. Like all contact lenses, there is a small risk of infection or allergy, but this is minimised with proper care and hygiene, plus regular reviews with your optometrist.

What to expect with an OrthoK  Fitting

Your OrthoK journey is guided step-by-step by your optometrist to ensure safe, comfortable, and effective treatment. Your first appointment will typically feel like a regular eye exam but with more focus paid to the shape of your eyes, from there here’s how your appointments typically unfold:

Lens Collection & Teach Appointment

At this appointment, your OrthoK lenses will be fitted and checked on your eyes. We’ll carefully assess how they sit on your cornea and make sure the design matches your unique eye shape. You’ll also be taught how to safely insert, remove, clean, and care for your lenses.

You’ll begin wearing your OrthoK lenses that night—just before bed. It’s normal to notice a slight sensation with your eyes open at first. This usually settles quickly, and most patients report little to no discomfort once their eyes are closed.

First Morning Review

After your very first night of lens wear, you’ll come back for an early morning check. Most people notice their vision is already starting to improve—up to 50% of the full correction can occur overnight.

One-Week Review

By this point, many patients are seeing clearly throughout the day. For higher prescriptions, full correction may take up to 2–3 weeks. If needed, we can adjust the lens design and order a revised lens—this is covered under the initial fitting program.

One-Month Review

At the one-month stage, your treatment should be close to stable. We’ll ensure everything is on track and make any final refinements to your care or lens use. From here, we’ll transition to less frequent follow-ups.

How Are OrthoK Lenses Designed? 

Precision, customised to you

Every OrthoK lens at Illume is fully custom-designed to match your eye’s unique shape and prescription. At your initial consultation, we use a specialised instrument called a corneal topographer to map the surface of your eyes in incredible detail. We then use fitting calculators and lens design software to choose the best lens for your eye. It’s this combination of technology and expertise that gives us the best chance of delivering safe, stable, and successful results with OrthoK.

Ongoing Care

After your six-month program is complete, we recommend regular follow-ups every six months to ensure your lenses are in good condition, your eyes are healthy and your vision remains stable. 

We also recommend replacing your OrthoK lenses annually to maintain the best possible performance and safety.