Did you know that Singapore is #1 in the world in the prevalence of short-sightedness in children between ages 7 to 9^? Myopia is a real problem many children face in this school-going age as it affects performance. No wonder, it is one of the biggest worries for many parents.
Meet Claris. She has been diagnosed with Myopia since she was 7 years old and has been using glasses ever since. But which child likes to wear glasses all the time? Claris did not like her glasses much. So, she would end up wearing them only when she was at school.
As she had not been wearing her glasses consistently, her myopia worsened. Today, Claris is not troubled any more, nor is her mother. She has found the perfect solution to control her myopia; and best of all, without having to wear glasses during the day!
Amazed? Well, we can’t wait to tell you about OCUVIQ®Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses.
You heard that right: lenses, as in contact lenses, for kids! You may not be a believer now, but wait until you hear the whole story. And with myopia control, greater effectiveness is achieved with early intervention.
What are OCUVIQ® Ortho-K lenses?
OCUVIQ® Ortho-K lenses are specially designed gas permeable (GP) contact lenses for wear during sleep.
To explain, let us give you a quick tour of your kid’s eye. Light passes through the cornea and is converged further by the lens to form a sharp image on the retina.
In myopia, the shape of the eyeball changes in such a way that the images from afar end up being focused IN FRONT of the retina instead of being focused ON it. Therefore, it is called short-sightedness. Images that are near focus correctly on the retina and the near vision is sharp.
Spectacles and traditional contact lenses help by converging the light in such a way that the images from afar end up falling on the retina correctly. That is why the power of the lens differs even from one eye to another.
What innovations like OCUVIQ® Ortho-K do is improve the curvature of the cornea overnight in such a way that your kid won’t need to wear spectacles at all! This therapy is known as Orthokeratology.
To state the benefits right away,
- It is a non-surgical procedure
- The lenses act when your kid is asleep, so no need to wear any eyewear during the day!
- It is suitable for kids and adults alike
Here are some more benefits of using OCUVIQ® Ortho-K lenses.
What is this revolutionary technology? Read on to find out…
How does Orthokeratology work?
Orthokeratology simply means the science of correcting/reshaping the cornea. It is a non-surgical vision correction treatment and the treatment is reversible. Meaning, if your child decides to stop wearing the Ortho-K lenses, his/her eye will return to its original status.
Your child will get a pair of tailor-made lenses that he/she will have to wear overnight. The lens will gently correct the corneal curvature so that it is ready to focus the light exactly on the retina the next day. In the following nights, your child wears it again and vision is improved the following day.
The lenses are highly gas permeable, so the cornea is not going to be deprived of oxygen at night, frees your kid from their spectacles (children over 5 years can use this safely), and it controls* myopia every day!
This is evident from many studies conducted by Prof. Helen Swarbrick of the UNSW Australia, School of Optometry and Vision Science. In one study, she concludes that Orthokeratology led to significant changes in both peripheral refraction and corneal topography. It actually helps create conditions that slow down myopia. In another study, she tells us about the evolution of Orthokeratography and points out how the recent lenses control myopia.
Hear directly from Claris, how OCUVIQ® Ortho-K lenses changed her life!
Her mother is pleased that she found an effective way to control Claris’s myopia. Claris is happy because she does not have to deal with the limitations of spectacles, or even remember to carry them (or where she left them)! All she has to do is use the OCUVIQ® Ortho-K lenses at night, and she is free from any eyewear during the day.
For more information on how OCUVIQ® Ortho-K would change your kid’s life, visit www.oculusgp.com. Better yet, consult an eye specialist at any of the following outlets:
The Point Optical
Blk 505 Tampines Central 1 #01-359 S520505,
Blk 703 Ang Mo Kio Central Ave 8 #01-2533 S560703,
Blk 624 Choa Chu Kang St 62 #01-222A S680624,
Blk 449 Clementi Central #01-259 S120449,
Blk 183 Toa Payoh Central #01-310 S310183,
Blk 83 Marine Parade Central #01-562 S440083.
For enquiries, Phone: +65 9723 8477 Email: thepointoptical@hotmail.com
The Eye clinic by Dr Cheryl Lee
333A Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery, #04-24/25 S238897
For enquiries, Phone: +65 6235 5833
C2 Optics
Blk 768 Woodlands Ave 6 #01-19 Woodlands Mart S730768
For enquiries, Phone: +65 6364 2279
City Optics
Blk 631 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 #01-920 S 560631
For enquiries, Phone: +65 6456 3247
Designer Eyewear
231 Bain Street #01-47 Bras Basah Complex S180231
For enquiries, Phone: +65 6339 4662
Eyez Pte Ltd
11 Tanjong Katong Road #01-22/23 One KM S437157
For enquiries, Phone: +65 67022122
KJ Optometrists
68 Orchard Road #04-52 Plaza Singapura S238839
For enquiries, Phone: +65 6333 0280
Mr Eyewear
No 1 Bukit Batok Centre Link #04-05 West Mall S658713
For enquiries, Phone: +65 6792 5733
The Eye Place
223 South Bridge Road Singapore 058772
How do you feel about this technological breakthrough, mums and dads? Share your thoughts with us below!
*Subject to individual eye conditions, the results may vary.
References
^Source: Health Promotion Board: Myopia – a World #1 we don’t want for our kids