Revolutionary orthokeratology allows sports people the freedom to compete lens-free

On Saturday 6 August, the 31st Olympic Games will kick off with over 200 countries taking part, competing in 42 Olympic sports, with 297 medals up for grabs. Of the estimated 10,500 athletes expected to compete, around 2,310 athletes are likely to be short-sighted (myopic).*

That said, you very rarely see athletes wearing glasses. Some may wear contact lenses, although they risk encountering issues when performing depending on humidity, rain, dislodging a lens, or when taking part in activities like swimming, where contact lenses are not a practical option. Some athletes will have had laser eye surgery, but a large number will be managing their myopia with orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses, correcting their vision overnight, leaving them free to compete by day without the inconvenience of wearing daily contact lenses.

What many don’t realise, is that these revolutionary lenses are available to ‘normal’ people too. You don’t have to be a world class athlete to reap the benefits. They cost a little more than your average daily lenses but the benefits for sports enthusiasts in particular, are great. Ortho-K lenses correct your vision while you sleep. You simply pop your ortho-k lenses in before bedtime, remove them in the morning, and wake up to a world of clear, sharp, natural vision – an exciting prospect for many who have been short-sighted for the majority of their lives.

Don’t just take our word for it. Even the celebs are giving them a go. You can get some really in depth insights on orthokeratology lenses in this feature on This Morning when Phillip Schofield became a convert.

There are only a handful of opticians in the area offering ortho-k lenses and Cameron Optometry is the only Edinburgh-based optician to supply the No. 7 brand of lenses (as listed here on their website) which we feel are the best on the market. Our expertise in contact lenses, recently holding the title of Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year, gives our patients added confidence when trying out revolutionary technologies such as overnight vision correction.

We are currently offering one month’s free lenses for anyone who signs up to ortho-k lenses through our Vision+ programme by the end of September.

Ortho-k is available for patients with the following prescription:

• Spherical spectacle prescription of -5.00D
• Astigmatism of upto -2.50D

Ortho-k is ideal for:

• People who want clear natural vision all day – every day
• Sporty or active people
• Young people – Ortho-k can help to reduce the progression of shortsightedness
• People who have considered laser surgery but are worried about the risks
• People who find contact lenses uncomfortable or specs inconvenient

Please get in touch if you would like further information or to arrange an assessment.

*An estimated 22% of the world’s population is myopic. Source: Holden, B; Sankaridurg, P; Smith, E; Aller, T; Jong, M; He, M (February 2014). “Myopia, an underrated global challenge to vision: where the current data takes us on myopia control.”. Eye (London, England). 28 (2): 142–6. doi:10.1038/eye.2013.256. PMC 3930268. PMID 24357836.