A day in the life of an OrthoK wearer

Set aside an unhurried few minutes in a clean, well-lit space. Wash and dry your hands, check each lens for damage and confirm which belongs in each eye. Complete the prescribed cleaning and disinfection process before insertion. A parent or carer should supervise a child until they can manage each step reliably, then continue checking the routine.

Insert the lenses shortly before going to sleep, following the method demonstrated at your fitting. Use only the recommended rinsing solution and drops. If you use peroxide, the full labelled neutralisation cycle must be complete in the correct case before a lens goes near your eye. Saline does not disinfect lenses. ^{3, 4}

Follow your prescribed overnight wearing time. IMI guidance recommends at least eight hours for overnight OrthoK; your lens instructions and clinician’s advice determine your schedule. A short or irregular night can affect the next day’s vision. Do not add daytime wear to make up for missed sleep. ¹

You may initially be aware of the lenses, but do not go to sleep hoping pain, marked redness or persistent discomfort will settle. Remove the lenses and seek advice.

Wash and dry your hands, then remove the lenses using the technique you were taught. If a lens feels stuck, use the recommended rewetting drops and allow it to move before attempting removal. Do not pull harder. Contact us promptly if it will not move or you cannot remove it safely. ²

Check how each eye sees after removal. Tell us if one eye is consistently less clear, if vision has changed or if your usual result is not lasting. Clean and disinfect the lenses straight away with fresh solution, following the full product instructions. Do not leave the cleaning until bedtime or top up yesterday’s solution. ^{3, 4}

For the detailed handling and product-care routine, use our OrthoK lens care guide alongside the instructions supplied at your fitting.

For a successful wearer, the practical benefit is a day with no lens on the eye. That can make school, exercise and work more convenient. Our OrthoK for adults page explains the options for people considering overnight lenses around work and an active lifestyle.

It is still important to judge the vision you actually have. If the whiteboard, road signs or computer screen are not clear enough, contact us about the result and appropriate temporary correction. Do not drive when blur, glare or halos make your vision unsafe.

Some people see halos or glare, particularly early in treatment or in dim light. Persistent symptoms deserve a review rather than simply waiting for your eyes to adjust. Going without daytime contacts also does not mean OrthoK prevents or treats dry eye.

Remove OrthoK lenses before swimming or showering and keep lenses and cases away from water. Daytime freedom from lenses does not replace suitable swimming goggles or protective eyewear for sport. ³

The reshaping effect is temporary. After a missed night, vision may be less clear or may fade earlier, although the change differs between wearers. Follow the advice given for your treatment rather than doubling your wearing time or using an old prescription without checking whether it is appropriate.

For travel or a school camp, pack your prescribed products in their original containers, a suitable case and the supplies needed for handling. Plan who will supervise a child’s care. If the routine cannot be followed safely, ask us about a temporary alternative before the trip.

No. It changes the cornea’s focusing effect temporarily; it does not reverse an elongated eye. In children and teenagers, treatment can slow further eye growth, but the response varies. Clear daytime vision alone does not tell us whether myopia is adequately controlled. ¹

If you plan to stop, arrange a review so we can manage the return of your prescription and, for a child, ongoing myopia control. Do not assume stopping will restore exactly the prescription you had before treatment began.

Overnight contact lens wear carries a risk of microbial keratitis, a corneal infection that can threaten sight. Good care and regular reviews reduce avoidable risks but cannot make treatment risk-free.

A retrospective study at four Japanese hospitals recorded four infections among 1,438 OrthoK wearers over 7,415 patient-years. Its estimated incidence was 5.4 cases per 10,000 patient-years, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.0–9.8. Patient-years combine the number of wearers with the time observed. This is one study’s estimate, not a personal prediction or proof that all lens types are equally safe. ⁵

Remove your lenses and seek urgent eye assessment for pain, unusual redness, light sensitivity, discharge or reduced vision. Do not reinsert them or wait for the next routine appointment. If the practice is closed, use an urgent eye-care service or emergency department. ⁶

At Vision Camberwell, early checks commonly include the day after starting, then around one week and one month. Follow your individual appointment instructions, including whether to arrive wearing your lenses. Further reviews depend on your eyes, treatment stage and response.

Reviews assess vision, corneal shape, eye-surface health and lens condition. For children receiving myopia management, axial-length monitoring helps assess eye growth. Retinal checks are planned according to your risk; high myopia may require annual dilated retinal examination rather than a blanket 1–3-year interval. ¹

Case and lens replacement depend on the product instructions, lens condition and your prescribed care plan. Do not wait for a fixed lifespan if a lens is damaged, uncomfortable or no longer performing well. Our OrthoK review and refitting page explains what we check when vision or comfort changes.

OrthoK works best when the wearer and household can commit to the overnight schedule, careful daily care and ongoing reviews. Suitability depends on more than prescription alone. Our OrthoK fitting programme and fees page explains the assessment and fitting process.

To discuss your routine, call Vision Camberwell Optometrists on 03 9882 5666 or visit us at 784 Burke Road, Camberwell.

References

1. Gifford KL, Richdale K, Kang P, et al. IMI: Clinical Management Guidelines Report. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2019;60(3):M184–M203.
2. US Food and Drug Administration. Guidance for Premarket Submissions of Orthokeratology Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses. April 2000. Patient-instruction template.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts. Accessed 5 October 2026.
4. US Food and Drug Administration. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution. Accessed 5 October 2026.
5. Hiraoka T, Matsumura S, Hori Y, et al. Incidence of microbial keratitis associated with overnight orthokeratology: a multicenter collaborative study. Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025;69:139–143.
6. US Food and Drug Administration. Contact Lens Risks. Accessed 5 October 2026.