What is Ortho-K? Orthokeratology and overnight lenses
Ortho-K, or orthokeratology, is an advanced contact-lens technique that uses rigid gas-permeable lenses overnight to temporarily and reversibly reshape the cornea. The goal is clear daytime vision without glasses or daytime lenses.
Suitability depends on each eye. A complete optometric assessment is required.
What is Ortho-K?
- Ortho-K stands for orthokeratology.
- It involves wearing special contact lenses while you sleep.
- These lenses temporarily reshape the cornea.
- On waking, many people can see better during the day without glasses or daytime lenses.
- The effect is reversible.
- It requires continued use and professional follow-up.
Ortho-K can be especially interesting for people with an active life in Barcelona: children, teenagers, students, athletes or adults who want to reduce their use of glasses during the day.
Ortho-K lenses are inserted before sleep and removed on waking. During the night, their special geometry gently redistributes the most superficial layers of the cornea (the epithelium), slightly flattening its central zone. This small optical change compensates for myopia and, often, mild astigmatism.
Unlike refractive surgery such as LASIK or PRK, Ortho-K does not cut or remove corneal tissue: the effect is fully reversible. If you stop wearing the lenses, the cornea gradually returns to its original shape within a few days.
The lenses are highly oxygen-permeable, allowing the cornea to breathe properly during overnight wear. Fitting is always personalised and requires specific tests such as corneal topography.
Ortho-K is not an off-the-shelf product: each pair of lenses is selected or designed based on ocular health, prescription, corneal shape and the patient's lifestyle.
Potential benefits
Daytime vision without glasses or daytime lenses
Worn overnight
Non-surgical alternative
Reversible effect
May support myopia control strategies
Useful for sports, school, work and daily life
Personalised fitting
Professional follow-up
Results may vary depending on prescription, cornea, age, consistency of use and professional follow-up.