Ortho-K for Kids: The First Month Explained

阅读中文版 →

By Shawn Au, Optometrist

The year-end school holidays are a popular time to start Ortho-K, and parents often ask us the same question: what actually happens in the first month?

Ortho-K uses specially designed lenses that your child wears while sleeping. They gently reshape the front of the eye overnight, so many children can see clearly in the day without glasses. Here is the first month, step by step.

Before you start: the assessment

Not every child is suitable for Ortho-K, so the first visit is a full assessment. We measure:

• Corneal mapping: the shape of the front of the eye.
• Axial length: how long the eye is, which helps us track myopia over time.
• Prescription: the current power and astigmatism.

If Ortho-K suits your child’s eyes, we design the lenses for each eye. If it doesn’t, we will talk you through the other myopia control options.

Collection day: lenses made for each eye

When the lenses are ready, we take time to teach your child, and you, how to handle them. It feels new at first and gets easier with practice. The daily routine is simple:

• Wash and dry hands before touching the lenses.
• Put the lenses in at bedtime.
• Take them out in the morning.
• Clean them and store them in the case.

The first nights: clearer day by day

The lenses are worn while sleeping and taken out in the morning. Daytime vision usually improves gradually:

• Night 1: a check-up the next morning.
• First week: daytime vision getting clearer.
• Weeks 1 to 2: clear vision usually builds up.
• Early on: glasses may still be needed for part of the day.

If an eye turns red or painful, or vision becomes blurry and doesn’t settle, take the lenses out and contact us the same day.

The follow-ups we book

We keep a close eye on things early on. A typical schedule looks like this:

• The morning after the first night
• About 1 week
• About 1 month
• About 3 months

The exact schedule depends on how your child’s eyes respond, and regular check-ups continue after that.

Why the holidays help

Starting in the holidays means the early check-ups don’t clash with school, and your child has time to settle into the routine before the new term. Every child is different, and results vary. Read more about Ortho-K and what affects Ortho-K pricing.

Book an Ortho-K assessment

Shawn Au, Optometrist, EMME Visioncare

Visit us at The Cathay, beside Dhoby Ghaut MRT (+65 8690 3598), or Jelita Mall, situated at 293 Holland Road (+65 9383 8569).