How long is an eye check up for Ortho-K?

If you are bringing your children for eye check up. You are advised  to spend about  four hours to do  a comprehensive eye check up.  We are serious about the check up as we are concern for your child's eye health in a long run. We need to do a thorough visual assessment and refraction.

www.loyaleye.com.myThis is critical, as our focus aim of ortho-k treatment  is to make the existing refractive error to zero power and address the current power from getting worse. For one  to be able to see clearly, it also involves the ocular muscles both intra-ocular and extra-ocular muscles.Hence all the intraocular muscles will be screened :convergence muscles, divergence muscles. accommodating muscles, relaxing muscles. both intra and extra ocular muscles must work in balance, harmonious and synchronized each other at its optimum function. Hence it can achieve maximum visual function with maximum visual comfort.

Besides, normal distance visual assessment, we also include near visual function test , night vision test, different levels of contrast sensitivity tests to ensure patients are able to see clearly at different times of the day.

We further conduct microscopic corneal tissue check up to ensure the child's cornea is compatible to the types of lens prescribed. Tear films inspection is essential as tear is an important medium for the Ortho-k lens to reshape the cornea.  A stable tear film with good mixture of oil, mucus and aqueous will ensure good visual outcome for a longer duration.  A good integrity of cornea with ideal physiological function will ensure a healthy eye.

Beside the external surface of the eye ball, many may neglect the internal part of the eye ball. The internal eye ball such as anterior chamber , lens , posterior chamber, vitreous layer and retina  is equally important. A retinal screening is important and a photo fundus is taken as a reference.

Since using orthok with the main aim of controlling the length of eyeball, hence,  measurement of the axial length of the eye ball is important. The length of eyeball usually determines the refractive status of the eye power.   Hence, in myopia or shortsightedness control, an important measurement of Axial Length of eyeball using A-Scan must be included in the eye examination.

The above mentioned procedures are part of eye examination. There are many more detail measurements is required and examination need to be done in order to custom made a good fit of Ortho-K on patients' eyes.

Learning curve to tailor made a good fitting on patients' eyes requires time and studies. Hence a good fit on a child's eye is very critical and it really needs experienced clinician to perform it. This will ensure your children eye is save and in the long run, save your money  and time.

Orthokertatologist,
Tan Bay Wah
www.loyaleye.com.my