Orthokeratology Perth & Fremantle
We can design and supply tailor fit ortho-k lenses to help you enjoy the freedom of good vision throughout the day without spectacles.
What is Ortho-K?
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, involves wearing contact lenses at night to correct your vision during the day. The contact lenses help to reshape the cornea through gently moulding the surface of the eye.
Ortho-K is a non-surgical option for people who experience the struggles of myopia / short sightedness. It helps you to see clearly in the daytime without the use of prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Who is suitable for Ortho-K?
A large number of prescription wearers are suitable for Ortho-K.
To assess your eligibility, we recommend you book in for an initial orthokeratology consultation. This consultation will also explain the process of Ortho-K which involves customising a contact lens specifically for your eyes.
Conditions Treated By Orthokeratology
What Conditions Can Ortho-K Treat?
Myopia (Nearsightedness): Ortho-K lenses gently reshape the centre of the cornea, helping light focus properly on the retina. This improves your ability to see clearly at a distance.
Astigmatism: Ortho-K lenses can be customised to correct irregularities in the cornea, addressing both vertical and horizontal distortions to enhance overall vision clarity.
Benefits of Orthokeratology
Myopia Control: Ortho-K has been shown to slow the progression of myopia, particularly in children and young adults. Ortho-K lenses are designed to optimise the myopia control effect for each patient. First, we map the surface of the eye, and then we use the information we gain to make a custom lens.
Vision Improvement: Ortho-K can effectively correct myopia and astigmatism vision conditions. Most people with mild to moderate myopia are good candidates for Ortho-K. This treatment has few age restrictions and is ideal for those who work in dusty environments, or have dry eyes.
Quick Results: With Ortho-K lenses, most patients experience rapid vision improvement. After the first night of wear, many report a noticeable difference, and over the following weeks, the vision improves and stabilises. This quick response can be a source of hope and optimism for parents concerned about their child's myopia.
Reversibility: One of orthokeratology's key benefits is that it's fully reversible. If you stop wearing the lenses, your corneas will gradually return to their original shape.
Comfort: Ortho K lenses are designed for comfort, with most patients experiencing minimal, if any, discomfort during wear. If you are wearing OrthoK contact lenses for the first time, our optometrist or trained staff member will instruct you on applying, removing, and caring for your lenses.
Convenience: Ortho K lenses are worn overnight, providing clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. This convenience can be a significant relief for parents, knowing that their child can enjoy clear vision without the hassle of daily lens or glasses management, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their child's well-being.
What are the Ortho-K risks?
The risks are minimal and in line with other contact lens wear modalities. Ortho-K does not result in a permanent change in the shape of the cornea. It is reversible with the cornea returning to its original shape within a few weeks of ceasing to wear your Ortho-K contact lenses.
As with all contact lenses, care must be taken to ensure good hygiene practice such as cleaning the contact lenses each morning after overnight wear.
Orthokeratology Process and Treatment Life Cycle
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The process begins with a comprehensive eye examination to confirm suitability, including refraction, eye health assessment, and discussion of goals such as myopia control or freedom from daytime lenses.
Digital corneal topography and other measurements are taken that enable the design of customised lenses. Our optometrists would then explain the process, expected results, risks, care instructions, and costs.
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After lenses are ordered and fitted, the patient presents for a delivery and contact lens teaching (tips and considerations with insertion/removal of contact lenses).
The patient then starts overnight wear, often noticing most of the vision change in the first few days to two weeks as the cornea reshapes.
Follow‑up visits are frequent at the start (commonly the next day, then around 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month) to check visual acuity, corneal topography, lens fit, and eye health. Adjustments (if required) will be made around the 1 month period.
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Full or near‑full correction typically stabilises within about 1–2 months, though exact timing depends on the initial prescription and individual corneal response.
In the first six months, the treatment program allows for several visits to monitor stability, refine lens design, and reinforce cleaning and handling routines. The cost of these visits are incorporated into the initial cost of the OrthoK lenses.
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Long‑term, patients usually wear lenses every night (or as advised) and attend regular reviews; in children treated for myopia control, reviews are often every 6 months, while stable adults may be seen annually.
OrthoK lenses are typically replaced about once a year to maintain optimal vision, fit, and lens hygiene, though exact replacement schedules may vary with lens condition and the advice of our optometrists.
At For Eyes Optometrist we provide personalised orthokeratology care from initial assessment and fitting through to long-term maintenance so you can enjoy clearer vision with expert support at every stage.
Ortho K Lens Consultation, Measurement and Care Plan
In our Fremantle (Perth) clinic, we can provide measurement for ortho-k lenses by taking a computerised map of the topography/surface contours of the eye. We can then use a program to design a lens that perfectly matches the shape of your eye.
Once the lens is made, we then assess it and make any adjustments based on your prescription and orthokeratology treatment needs. You will have the supervision and support of our highly-trained ortho-k optometrists at every stage of your care plan.
Orthokeratology Lens Design and Customisation
Orthokeratology lenses are made of a rigid highly gas permeable (or breathable) material. The diameter of the lens ranges from 10.60 mm to 11.00 mm or just over, in some cases. All of the characteristics of the lens is individually customised to suit the prescription and needs of the patient.
Why choose us?
Focused on the health of your eyes, committed to delivering tailored treatment plans and long-term support.
High level of experience and expertise for orthokeratology
Comprehensive eye examination with the latest technologically advanced equipment
Certified by the International Academy of Orthokeratology & Myopia Control
Extensive experience with children from a very young age
Complex contact lens fittings and advice including orthokeratology
Meet the Optometrists
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Adrian Rossiter
Founder / Optometrist
Adrian has over 35 years of experience as an optometrist in independent practice and as family eye care practitioner and has special interest working with specialty contact lenses for orthoieratology. Adrian is also a member of the Optometrists Association Australia and the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania.
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Sinead Denny
Optometrist
Sinead is passionate about all areas of Optometry including contact lenses, myopia control and Indigenous Eye Health. Sinead is also involved in running a Diabetic Eye Screening clinic at Fremantle Hospital and the supervision of students in the Doctor of Optometry at the University of Western Australia.
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Hannah Jackson
Optometrist
Hannah completed her Master of Optometry at Deakin University with distinction. She has a particular interest in paediatric optometry together with colour vision testing and low vision care. She holds an advanced certificate in children’s vision and is a CASA certified optometrist.
Ortho K Perth FAQs
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The advances in lens materials that breathe and provide a high level of oxygen to the eye have greatly improved the safety of overnight wear, making orthokeratology not just possible, but a reassuringly safe option. However, it's important to note that all contact lens wear (including Ortho-K) carries a small risk of infection, especially if instructions for safe and healthy wear are not followed.
The risk of infection with Ortho-K wear has been shown to be no higher than that of wearing soft contact lenses overnight. Children actually show a lower infection risk than adults.
When fitted with Ortho-K lenses, the process is strictly monitored by our qualified optometrists. You can trust that Ortho-K is a good option for improving your vision.
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The main purpose of OrthoK is to be free of both contact lenses and spectacles for the majority (or all) of your daily (awake) hours. The freedom from any artificial aid appeals to myopic spectacle and contact lens wearers and is ideal for those who play sport, work in a dusty or dirty environment. or people who find spectacles and conventional contact lenses inconvenient. In addition, those who need to have a certain degree of uncorrected vision to satisfy their employer or a licensing body (for example, pilots or police) can be helped by OrthoK. Most patients wear the lenses overnight and remove them on awakening.
One of the most common uses for using OrthoK is for the child or teenager with early myopia. In addition to all the advantages given above, the procedure can slow the progression of the myopia.
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No, it is temporary change that is reversible. If you, or your child, stops wearing the lenses regularly while you sleep, your vision will return to it’s original state within a couple of days.
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Orthokeratology is not only a safe option but also effective in slowing down the progression of myopia in children, offering a hopeful solution that traditional glasses or contact lenses don't offer.
Starting young works best and has the greatest impact on myopia control. A key advantage of Ortho-K is that it is suitable for young children who are just starting to develop myopia. Whatever method is chosen for myopia control, the greatest compliance leads to the greatest success overall. Compliance is high in Ortho-K lens wear, as the effects of Ortho-K gently fade if the lenses are not worn.
Additional myopia control treatments, such as low-dose atropine, can be added to Ortho-K lens wear if required. Your optometrist will monitor changes in axial length biometry (indicating that myopia is increasing) and advise if this is required.
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Laser surgery, or Lasik, is a permanent surgical procedure. Laser surgery is not always 100% successful but is not reversible. Ortho-K is a gentle adjustment that is always reversible. An unsuccessful fit will not be a long-term problem. In addition, Ortho-K is always adjustable if your eyes change and you have the freedom to move between Orthok, spectacles or contact lenses as desired.
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Yes.
No ethical surgeon will treat a patient until they are at least 18, or more usually 21 years old.
It does not cause the permanent hazy vision experienced by some patients following laser surgery.
Changes in prescription over time can be dealt with without further surgery.
The procedure is reversible (LASIK is not!)
There is good understanding of the effects of contact lens wear on the cornea, because of the many years of contact lens use by patients.
There is no post-operative pain or recovery period.
OrthoK is significantly cheaper (around one quarter of the cost) and does not preclude surgery in the future.
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The results of dry eye treatment will vary by patient. Anecdotal evidence suggests that after the first two treatments, minimal improvement may be noted. After three treatments, improvements are likely to be noticed by patients together with an improvement in clinical signs. The great majority of patients start to notice an improvement after 4 treatments. A cautiously optimistic approach is to expect improvement after 4 - 5 treatments together with a reduction in the use of lubricating eye drops.
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The procedure is time consuming and may involve several lens changes. For this reason, the initial costs are greater than conventional contact lens correction but less than refractive surgery. Once the treatment is complete, the on-going costs are similar to regular contact lens wear.
The current charges are a $1,100.00 consultation fee, and typically around $1,100.00 for the lenses. A deposit of $1,100 is payable at the time of the initial consultation. 50% of the lens cost is payable on lens delivery and the balance one month after delivery of the lenses.
For ongoing care, typically Ortho-K requires an eye examination every six-months to twelve months.
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We have successfully fitted children as young as eight years of age with Ortho-K lenses. The key is the commitment of both the child and the parents to being successful with the treatment plan. It can be a great option for children and teens that are active in sports or other activities where glasses would get in the way.
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Depending on your private health fund cover and level of rebate, yes you will be able to claim part of the cost. There is no rebate available from Medicare towards the cost of Ortho-K.
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No. At For Eyes, we are a private billing practice. This allows us to prioritising your eye health and gives us the ability to invest in advanced technology, training and spend the right time to understand your concerns.
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Eye Mapping and Lens Design
We begin by taking a computerised map of your eye's surface contours. Using this data, a customised lens is designed to perfectly match the unique shape of your eye.Lens Creation and Assessment
Once the lens is designed, it’s carefully manufactured in specialised labs. We then assess the fit and make any necessary adjustments to ensure optimal comfort and vision correction.Initial Trial Fitting
The first trial fitting takes about an hour, during which we ensure the lens is working effectively and comfortably.Follow-Up Assessments
Follow-up appointments are crucial. We’ll check your progress the next day, after one week, two weeks, and then at the one-month mark to fine-tune the treatment.Ongoing Monitoring and Supervision
Orthokeratology is a continuous treatment program, not a "set and forget" solution. You'll receive ongoing supervision and care from our highly-trained optometrists to ensure long-term success.
Need to make an appointment?
Schedule an appointment directly with our clinic or contact us today using our online web form.