The oldest conceptualization of myopia was by Aristotle in 350 BC, who was the first to use a word close to myopia. He called it μύώψς (muoops), a Greek word that combined the two parent words, “close” and “eye.”
While he had an idea of the eye issue, it was far from complete or correct. It was not until 1554 that Maurolycus described the refractive issues. He proposed that myopia or short vision could be corrected by a concave lens and long vision by a convex lens.
Since then, eye doctors have understood the condition much better, allowing them to treat it more effectively. Out of all the information coming their way, one that stands out is the progression of myopia.
Importantly, they understood they could stop this and preserve most of the visual acuity that could have been lost. One of the most well-known and effective methods that eye doctors use to control and treat myopia is orthokeratology or ortho-k.
Ortho-k takes the form of contact lenses that sit on the surface of your eye while you are asleep. You have perfect vision while enjoying the same freedom as someone with laser eye surgery. The key difference is you did not undergo any surgical procedure for this freedom. If you have always wanted to spend your days free of eyewear but the idea of laser surgery makes you squirm, ortho-k is for you.
Being noninvasive, ortho-k poses significantly less risk to your eyes than laser eye surgery. Moreover, the fact that you wear the lenses while you sleep means you are at a lesser risk for conditions common with contact lenses. Contact lens users are likelier to develop an infection or contact lens-induced dry eyes.
Additionally, the success rate of ortho-k is significantly high, with patients reaching 20/20 vision. Some are known to get 20/40 vision in a surprisingly short time. However, some factors influence the success rate, such as the degree of myopia and corneal rigidity.
Since the discovery of myopia progression, several strategies have been developed to stop the worsening of myopia. The strategy works well, especially when it is introduced to children who are just developing myopia. Of all the strategies so far, ortho-k has been one of the most successful, limiting the final prescription to 50% less than it would have been.
A key advantage of ortho-k is its convenience. Using it, you never have to worry about forgetting your glasses. You will never have to worry about dropping a lens in the sink at work when you wash your face. Best of all, you enjoy the same visual quality as someone who has never had eye issues.
Sometimes, contacts can become uncomfortable when you use them during the day. With ortho-k, you never have to worry about that because you are asleep most of the time they are on.
For more reasons why ortho-k is the best myopia treatment available, visit Atlanta Eye Group at our offices in Alpharetta, Atlanta, or Kennesaw, Georgia. Call (772) 272-9470 to book an appointment today.