Orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses are worn only while you sleep. Take them out in the morning and see clearly all day, with no glasses or daytime contacts. For children, ortho-k can also help slow nearsightedness (myopia) from getting worse.
Ortho-k lenses are custom-designed rigid lenses that gently and temporarily reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea) overnight. It works a bit like a retainer for your eyes.
Nearsightedness in children is rising fast, and about half the world is expected to be nearsighted by 2050. It’s more than needing stronger glasses every year: the higher a child’s prescription climbs, the higher their lifelong risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration. Starting myopia control early can make a lasting difference.
Is your child pre-myopic? A near-zero prescription in a young child can be an early warning sign.
Eye exam, corneal mapping, and eye-length measurements to see if ortho-k is right for your child.
Dr. Huang designs lenses specifically for your child’s eyes.
We teach your family how to insert, remove, and clean the lenses with confidence.
Regular visits track vision, eye health, and how well myopia is being controlled.
Ortho-k isn’t the only option. We’ll help you choose what fits your child’s age, prescription, and lifestyle.
Daily disposable lenses, such as MiSight 1 day, worn during the day to correct vision and slow progression.
A nightly eye drop that can help slow myopia progression, used alone or with lenses.
More time outdoors and the 20-20-20 rule for screens. Tips for parents
Dr. Huang and her daughter wrote a children’s book that walks kids step by step through their ortho-k routine, with bedtime and morning checklists.
Many children start around ages 6 to 8, and some younger children do well too. What matters most is that your child is motivated and a parent can help with the nightly routine.
Ortho-k lenses are made of a highly breathable, FDA-approved material designed for overnight wear. Like any contact lens, the most important safety factor is good hygiene, so we teach every family a simple, step-by-step care routine and see your child for regular check-ups.
No. Most kids feel the lens for the first few nights, then get used to it quickly. Because the lenses are worn while sleeping, there is no daytime lens discomfort.
Many patients notice clearer vision after the first night, and vision usually stabilizes within one to two weeks.
The cornea gradually returns to its original shape within days, and vision goes back to how it was before treatment. Ortho-k is fully reversible.
Along with vision and prescription checks, we can track the length of the eye (axial length) over time, which shows how well treatment is slowing nearsightedness.
Book an ortho-k and myopia control consultation with Dr. Rae Huang.