HEALTH & FITNESS
From Issue #10
Want
20/20 Vision? Take a nap
A Look At Orthokeratology
by Dr. Fiona Soong, B.Sc. O.D.
HAVE
YOU GOT AN EYE FOR EYES? GUESS WHO? ============>
(answers below)
If you wear glasses they probably fog up and tend to get
in the way when you’re getting physical…like
when you’re playing sports. And often, daywear contact lenses feel dry and uncomfortable when you’ve had
them in too long. But things are looking up since a new
procedure has been developed that will let you go to sleep
and wake up without needing glasses or contacts. And no
eye surgery is involved. Orthokeratology uses specially
designed contact lenses to temporarily reshape the front
curvature of your eye (cornea) while you sleep. When you
wake up in the morning you remove the lenses and experience
perfect vision for the entire day. The procedure first
requires a full eye examination with an optometrist to
make sure that your eyes are healthy and your prescription
is within the parameters of eligibility (prescriptions
less than –5.00 Dioptres are most successful). Then
a computerized mapping system takes a picture that records
the curves of your eye. The optometrist then designs special
trial lenses for you to wear while you sleep. You may
need a couple of lenses designed before the perfect “fit”
is found. Once you remove the contact lens you should
be able to see markedly better. Although it may fade in
the evening of the first few days, the results will slowly
get better and last longer the more you wear it, until
finally your vision is perfect.
ADVANTAGES:
•No more irritated contacts from dust, smoke or allergies.
•Nothing to interfere with your sports.
•May slow down and stagnate the progression of nearsightedness.
DISADVANTAGES:
•Is limited to persons with nearsighted (myopic) prescriptions.
•May require a few optometric visits to fit the lenses correctly.
COSTS:
•$1500 - $3000 for initial fitting and lenses.
•Lenses need to be replaced every 1-3 years.
•Replacement lenses are approx. $300.
Celeb Eyes (from top)
Alannis Morrissette
Shakira
Avril Lavigne
Pink
Macey Gray
Alicia Keyes
Gwen Stefani
Nelly Furtado
