Orthok - what are the dangers & risks ?

I'm currently undergoing ortho k and am interested in learning of the
dangers and risks. I'm aware infection is the main one, but what are
the other issues ?

 

Corneal abrasions due to ill fitting lenses. If yours fit fine, the
risk is minimal. OrthoK has a slight risk about equal to daily wear
contacts but its safer than 24/7 contacts(because orthoK is NOT worn
24/7) and its much, much safer than lasik(ignoring the false article
Glenn posted) For this reason you can see why ill take orthoK anyday
over lasik. I dont care that its a slight inconvinence. I can deal with
inserting/removing them every other day. OrthoK>glasses anyday. Lasik
is too risky, too problamatic for most people to consider, that is
unless you live for risks!

 

Thanks for the feedback.

I understand orthok works by putting pressure on the epithelium and
therefore thinning it. Does anyone know if my understanding is correct
? If so, does this continual pressure on the epithelium cause any
problems over time ?

 

OrthoK has been around much longer than lasik. The long term effects
would have been known by now. I havent heard many problems with orthoK
unlike lasik. You are smart to have chosen orthoK instead of lasik(even
back when you were 30 you didnt get lasik)
You may believe lasik is better for me. That would be true except lasik
is not a good option for *anyone* because it does not have a safety
profile and causes too many problems. You are perfectly aware of the
problems having read my posts and done your reserch.

There will be better solutions in the future to replace lasik and
supplament or improve upon orthoK.

 

he isn't asking for a comparison... or a anti-lasik rant.
he is asking a specific orthok question.

 

cg_aust schreef:

May I ask why your fitter didn't informed you?

Jan (normally Dutch spoken)

 

Well he's not going to get anything factual or useful from Ace. He's
but a child who hides behind his Ace alias and posts on subjects about
which he has absolutely no scientific or medical training. Most of what
he writes he looks up on the internet or simply invents out of his own
mind.

Just ignore him but sadly, he wont go away because this (and a couple of
other newsgroups) is his only contact with the real world, such as it is.

LB

 

Jan,

He certainly emphasises cleanliness of hands, contacts, fingers etc
when handling them, and the risk of infection if you don't, which I do.

In his expert opinion he believes there's no long term adverse effects
from orthok. However contrary anecdotal evidence and peoples own
perceptions and experience are always of interest with any medical
issue. Experts in the same field often disagree. Different viewpoints
are how we learn. Hence my request for info in this forum.

 

Well I wonder why you don't just get Lasik.

LOL....ALMLOST everyone will have to get reading glasses and this way
you will never have to wear bi-focals. Plus, you you could always
borrow a pair to read the menu at a restaurant from anyone

That said. Good luck on your OrthoK, sounds like a lot of work. From
what I have read it doesn't seem like there are many complications.

 

Actually orthok's not much work at all once you're in to the swing of
it. Surprising how quickly it becomes part of the routine.

No more work than having a shower, washing your hair, brushing &
flossing teeth, using mouthwash, having a bowel movement, wearing clean
clothes and having a shave which I also do daily, as I hope most people
do.

I agree most people will end up in reading glasses, me included, but my
optom said to give orthok a try. So far I'm glad I did.

Thanks for your input re the lack of complications, much appreciated.

 

Except you *wont* need reading glasses if you retain some myopia. Being
myopic is like built in readers. For this reason, I want to reduce my
-4.5 myopia to between -1 and -2 so I can avoid needing readers, yet
almost eliminate my dependency on distance glasses. Maybe some of you
dont mind readers but its a NO NO for me! I dont ever want to deal with
readers and I dont have to!