Ortho-K (Overnight Contacts) for Nearsightedness Control
Custom lenses worn while sleeping that help your child see clearly during the day—often without glasses—while also helping slow worsening nearsightedness.
What is Ortho-K?
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Ortho-K (orthokeratology) uses specially designed contact lenses worn only at night. While your child sleeps, the lenses gently shape the front surface of the eye so that in the morning, your child can often see clearly all day without glasses or daytime contacts.
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What it does (and doesn’t do):
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Does: Improve daytime vision and may help slow the rate nearsightedness gets worse
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Doesn’t: Permanently “cure” nearsightedness—stopping Ortho-K usually means vision returns to baseline over time
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Why families choose Ortho-K
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Daytime freedom from glasses (great for sports and active kids)
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No daytime contacts (lenses are worn during sleep)
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Clear routine with structured follow-ups
Often a strong option for kids whose prescription is increasing each year
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Who is a good candidate?
Ortho-K may be a great fit if your child:
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Is nearsighted and still progressing
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Plays sports or dislikes wearing glasses
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Can follow a consistent nighttime routine
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Has eyes that fit safely within Ortho-K design parameters (we measure this)
Ortho-K may not be the best fit if your child:
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Has significant difficulty following hygiene steps
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Has certain eye surface issues that make lens wear harder (we’ll evaluate)
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Can’t commit to follow-up visits early on (they matter for safety and results)
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Ortho-K Safety
All contact lenses carry some risk, especially if hygiene is poor. Our job is to reduce risk with:
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Careful fitting and lens design
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Step-by-step training for insertion, removal, and cleaning
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Early checkups to confirm the lens is fitting safely
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Ongoing monitoring of eye health and comfort
Your job: follow the routine and contact us right away if there is pain, worsening redness, light sensitivity, or sudden vision changes.
What the Ortho-K process looks like at Cohenmehr Optometry
Step 1: Ortho-K evaluation (visit 1)
We check prescription, eye health, and measure the shape of the eye so we can design a custom lens.
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Step 2: Lens design and ordering
Your child’s lenses are custom-made from the measurements.
Step 3: Dispense + training (visit 2)
We teach safe handling, cleaning, insertion/removal, and confirm the lens is performing properly.
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Step 4: First morning check (critical)
We see your child shortly after the first nights of wear to ensure the eye is healthy and the lens is fitting safely.
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Step 5: Follow-ups + fine-tuning
We adjust the design if needed and monitor stability and eye health.
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What results to expect
Many kids notice meaningful improvement quickly, but it may take time for vision to stabilize, and some children still need occasional glasses for certain tasks.
Our goal is:
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safe wear and comfort
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clear functional vision
slowing the rate nearsightedness progresses over time
Ortho-K FAQ
Will my child feel the lenses at night?
Some awareness early on is normal; most adapt quickly.
Can they wear Ortho-K every night?
Yes, it’s designed for routine nightly wear, with a schedule we customize.
What happens if we stop?
Vision typically returns toward baseline over time because the effect is not permanent.
Can Ortho-K be combined with other myopia control methods?
Sometimes. We decide based on your child’s progression, comfort, and measurements.
Ready to see if Ortho-K is right for your child?
Schedule an Ortho-K consultation in our Los Angeles / Santa Monica office.