For colleagues and clinicians
Orthokeratology
Professional context for the temporary optical effect, prescribed wear, lens care and continuing review.
Evidence.
Context.
Discussion.
This information does not provide patient-specific clinical guidance. Assessment, prescribing and fitting decisions require appropriate professional evaluation.
Professional perspective
A temporary effect, a continuing care relationship
Explain the temporary optical effect
Orthokeratology uses specially designed rigid lenses to alter the corneal profile temporarily. The effect reduces when prescribed wear is discontinued. The existing animation shows a concept, not the amount of change, a predicted visual result or a personal wearing schedule.
Continued prescribed wear is needed to maintain the optical effect.
Observe the relationship, not a fitting recipe
Use the cutaway and timeline to discuss lens position and the corneal-profile concept. The illustrated regions are simplified. Proprietary geometry, centration assessment, lens selection and fitting decisions require supervised clinical knowledge.
The visual sequence does not prescribe a lens or teach a self-contained fitting protocol.
Aftercare belongs in the first conversation
Handle lenses with clean, dry hands; follow the prescribed care system and its instructions. Keep lens and case exposure to water out of the routine, including showering and swimming. Use fresh solution as directed. Overnight wear must follow the individual prescription; the animation cannot determine it.
Discuss safe handling and the follow-up plan alongside the optical effect.
Know when to stop lens wear and seek care
Pain, redness, light sensitivity, sudden blurred vision or unusual discharge during lens wear need urgent eye-care advice. Remove the lens and contact an eye-care professional immediately; do not resume wear until advised. This is safety education, not a symptom checklist or diagnosis tool.
Warning symptoms need professional assessment, not adjustment of a model.
See the concepts
Visual examples
View the lens and timeline in Ortho-K mode.
Explore the corneaRevisit the anatomy beneath the lens.
The visual models illustrate concepts. They do not interpret measurements or select care.
Clinical discussion
Illustrative case example
Case B · setting expectations for Ortho-K
Illustrative case example. These observations are not measured data, a diagnosis or a prediction; no patient record is used.
- Example age
- 15 years
- Reason for discussion
- An illustrative family conversation about the night-to-day animation
- Model observation
- Illustrative temporary profile change
- Clinical measurements
- Not supplied; suitability cannot be decided
Step 1 of 4
What might be misunderstood in the animation?
A continuous sequence can make the effect look permanent. Explain that it is temporary and dependent on prescribed wear.
A discussion prompt, not a diagnosis or a single correct treatment answer.
Concept reflection Optional · no assessment or score
The effect is temporary and wear is individually prescribed. A model cannot establish a fitting design, personal schedule or long-term myopia-control outcome.
No score or performance record. The selected concept stays in temporary page state and is not stored or sent to analytics.
A shared vocabulary
Clinical glossary
7 terms shown. Search stays on this page.
- Corneal topography
- Mapping of corneal surface shape; reflection-based systems describe the anterior surface.
- Corneal tomography
- Imaging that can describe anterior and posterior corneal surfaces and thickness.
- RGP
- Rigid gas permeable: a contact-lens material/type used in selected optical-care approaches.
- Orthokeratology
- Specially designed rigid-lens care that produces a temporary corneal optical effect.
- Refraction
- Assessment of the eye’s optical focusing and the correction needed for clear vision.
- Axial length
- The front-to-back dimension of the eye; a measurement considered in myopia monitoring.
- Myopia management
- A continuing approach to correction, communication, monitoring and consideration of progression-slowing care.
Read the evidenceEvidence & sources
These sources support the concepts described here.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Temporary corneal optical effect and continued prescribed wear. U.S. information does not establish South African product approval or this practice’s services. Publication year not stated.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Avoiding lens exposure to water, including showering and swimming. Updated 27 May 2025.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The prescribed lens-care system, fresh solution and manufacturer instructions. Saline is not a disinfectant. Updated 27 May 2025.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Warning symptoms, immediate lens removal and urgent eye-care advice. Updated 27 May 2025.
International Myopia Institute · Flitcroft et al.
Distinguishes optical correction, interventions intended to slow progression, and comprehensive management; explains monitoring and regulatory context.
Connected professional care
Need to discuss a patient referral?
Use the separate professional enquiry pathway. Case reflections and choices do not become referral information.