Ortho-K contact lenses for 7YO DD

[EssCee]

I'm really worried about DD's change in vision over the past 6 months. So, just trying to investigate all the options available - including Ortho-K lenses.

In November 2018, it was a surprise to find out that she needed glasses (prescription: -0.5, -1.5) for the whiteboard/TV, etc. But, she was happy enough to wear them.

6 months later, her prescription has changed to -2.5 in both eyes.

She has her new glasses, but she's not happy with wearing them all the time, and they do make her look a little different. I'm worried that it'll affect her confidence - this morning, she didn't want to get out of bed for school and she looked sad when looking in the mirror. Both very out of character and really so sad for me to see.

Both DH and I are both quite badly short-sighted, so there's a big genetic component.

Does anyone know much about ortho-K lenses as a way to slow down the progression of myopia? And how effective they are in replacing glasses? Have you tried them for your own DC?

Thank you in advance.

^ research based on Caucasians, if of Asian decent myopic progression could be higher.

dd started with hers mid teens and they've stopped any further progression early on I'm so glad that we started her on them. I agree that if she could end up being severely myopic then anything that can lessen this is good.

Thanks @Smiling89.... And my myopia carried on worsening well beyond 17, too.

That's it.

I really need to do what I can to help her.

@OhYouBadBadKitten Very glad it helped your DD.

What's the best way for me to explain this treatment to a 7 YO, without frightening her? Or implying that I don't love her in her glasses?

Can I ask a silly question? My DD is 13 and has worn contacts for about 3 years, mostly because she was being picked on at school for her glasses (amongst other things - thoroughly horrible primary school but we were stuck with nowhere to move her to) but partially because it’s much easier for her to play hockey in contacts than glasses.

Her shortsightedness is to do with her astigmatism - does anyone know if Ortho K is suitable for this type? When I asked her optician a year or so ago they waved me away but they can be very brusque.

My eyesight is good so I don’t wear glasses so I don’t really understand the ins and outs of it tbh.

I haven't got experience of using MiSight lenses but I work for CooperVision (the manufacturer) ad a scientist and I have seen the data we have got from various srudies. I don't know how they compare to the glass lenses but personally if MiSight is being offered I would take it. Feel free to PM me if you want.

Husband and I are both high myopes. DD followed your DDs pattern and we started these at age 8 . Family history of retinal detachment ( as you might know associated with high myopia) . Sensible DD adjusted within a week. 10 years later she has had no problems- and is now 18 with no progression of her myopia. Marvellous. This is not about cosmetics- this is about reducing progression of myopia and all its associated issues. Might not be an issue if one has mild myopia but in our case an excellent decision. We now have another child doing the same ( started later as different issue— one myopic eye , one normal) . They ortho K one eye only.

This of course depends on your child being able to care for the lenses properly but mine was certainly competent at 8 .

These are not ‘normal lenses’ for those that don’t realise. Also so much better for sport/ swimming etc .

I would just ask her if she’s interested and list the benefits of contact lenses:
No fogging of glasses
No sweaty nose/glasses sliding down when hot
No frame in the way
Sports (contact lenses don’t fall out/ no lenses if ortho k)
Stop her eyes getting too much worse I.e. less likely to need thick glasses
I’d try to avoid the scary health concerns of high myopia, that would probably be too frightening for a seven year old. Ask her if there’s any time she wishes she didn’t have to wear them. Get the optometrist to show her some lenses and someone putting them in (ideally someone who wears them all the time and comfortable with getting them in or out quickly). It’s reassuring seeing someone do it with literally no fuss.

Other things you might want to consider when deciding between ortho k and misight:
Misight are easily replaced if you lose one (orthok lenses normally take a week to order in)
Ortho k also corrects astigmatism up to -2.00, misight doesn’t correct astigmatism so vision could be compromised if she has any astigmatism.
Orthok will be handled at home where you can help her. If she has a problem with misight lenses whilst at school, does she have anyone to help her if she can’t get it out?
Vision is completely normal with specs after removing misight lenses. If you stop wearing orthok it takes a while for the cornea to go back to its original shape (so may need varying powers of soft lenses to wear whilst adjusting)

I am quite short sighted -4.5. I tried ortho k for 6 months but had to give up, I found that my vision was not consistent, some days it would be perfect others it seemed as if the lens had moved slightly off centre during the night and my vision was not really good enough to manage daily tasks and of course my glasses were wrong as they were temporarily the wrong strength. I had worn soft lenses for years but really struggled getting these out in the morning, I had to use a little plunger in the end and if I didnt create a gap to break the seal around my eye and lenses it was very painful taking them out. If I had tried as a child I may have had more success. I had lots of support from an independent optician who was as disappointed as I was that it didnt work for me.

DS is 15 and has been wearing MiSight for about a year (wore dailies from age 11). At first his prescription stabilised but there was a slight deterioration at his last check up which I was disappointed about but the optom wasn't too concerned. They are very thin and it's tricky to see if they are "inside out" ... took him a while to get used to fitting but no problem now. If his prescription does continue to change I may suggest we revert back to standard dailies as I'm not prepared to pay extra if it doesn't make a difference.

I have an eye condition where it’s quite common for children to wear gas permeable lenses from quite young. Quite often the parents will do the putting in and taking out and cleaning for younger ones. It’s very expensive but maybe worth a try.

Is there anything that can be done with thinning the lenses in her glasses to make them look a bit better, I have mine thinned as they look odd if not as they are so thick at the edges.

I would leave it until she's a tad older personally. Partly because if infections do happen they can stop you wearing lenses ever again and are so painful - people ask to have their eyes taken out just to be rid of the pain (I don't think the doctors do this). Also partly because I find soft lenses traumatic still and I'm nearly thirty!

And also because of how guilty you'll feel if you accidentally scratch her eyeball while taking them in and out.

Thanks for the suggestions @Smiling89, focusing on the practical benefits is definitely the way forward. I also found a video on Youtube with an 8 YO doing a Q&A about her experience, which would be pretty informative for her.

God, yes, it would be a bit of a panic if she loses an Ortho-K lens! But, I wouldn’t want to put the responsibility on school to help with her lenses, if she needed help with Misight for some reason. Hmmm…

Would you rule out Mi-sight entirely for kids that do some swimming? DD does swimming 2x a week - 1.5 hours total. She’s in a swimming club but not swimming competitively, but I guess there’s a chance she could go down that route in the future.

(It's probably quite unlikely, but I don't want to limit her options if she wanted to do more swimming).

Actually, the swimming could be the way to sell it to her. Being able to see clearly while swimming is a dream of many myopes. But you definitely can't swim with misight.

@Nowtherainhasgone I believe it helps with mild astigmatism. Perhaps speak to a local optician and see what they recommend?

www.orthoklenses.com/finder

The two local independent opticians that I've spoken to so far have given me quite a bit of information (albeit they have said different things regarding effectiveness, etc, which is why is super helpful to ask on here too).

@ElleEmDee @mateysmum @deedar @RockNRollNerd @OhYouBadBadKitten @chachagabor

I have now spoken to 2 x optometrists who are based in surrounding towns (as there isn't anyone in our town that does these lenses). Both optoms seemed helpful/knowledgeable, but gave slightly different statistics and shared different experiences.

Would you pick someone more experienced and is a co-owner of the practice (based on their age) or someone that's more recently qualified (but has more up-to-date knowledge??)?

How did you pick your optician?

Hmm, that's a hard one.

Which do you think your DD would feel most comfortable with? Which one gave you a feeling of confidence and care?

Our optometrist is the only local one that does orthoK, but I went initially for my RGP lenses as I wasn't really happy with the level of care at Specsavers - all felt a bit of a sausage machine and very rushed. I was really impressed by the time he took, his extended qualifications, that he works some sessions in the local hospital and is the emergency call out for eye related emergencies at the hospital.It was all a bit of a no brainer. DS has a good rapport with him too as when he was really struggling to get the lenses in initially, the optometrist was endlessly patient and helpful.

Perhaps you can ask questions about how many OrthoK lenses each candidate has fitted - especially in children. Are they contact lens specialists? How often do they do check ups and what does that include? What is the annual cost and what does it include? How and what they answer may help you decide.

Good that you are doing your homework.
There are very few that do it round here, but my own optician recommended her for DD, even though they are rivals. I was really grateful.

You could book in for a chat with your DD with them without committing to them, and she which one she feels happy working with. For us one of the successes was that DD felt really relaxed and motivated by her opthalmologist.

We will continue to pay for DDS until she is in paid employment. I'm really keen that she keeps going with it and she loves them.

NowTheRainHasGone OrthoK does help with astigmatism, but only if it is mild. DS was warned that an astigmatism might reduce the effectiveness of the lenses but that has proved not to be the case, but it's another reason to start using them as early as possible before the astigmatism gets too bad.

EssCee

What part of the country are you in?

Mine is an independent with a very small group of local chains . It is owned and run by one individual who I know and trust . She suggested these originally and at that time DD was her youngest patient to try these ( 10 years ago) . There are a number of ‘younger ‘ opticians working at the Practice.. some do ortho K , some not . They offer very good after care . Despite cost I now use these for two of my children.
My eldest has a ‘reserve/ guesstimate ‘ pair of glasses in case they have to miss the ortho K for 2 days ... or just can’t be bothered for a night. This rarely happens. Things may change when they go to university and have a more erratic routine.
Don’t know where you are ... happy to Dm

@mateysmum - based on my telephone calls, both seemed competent and good at answering my questions/listening to me. As small independents, they would both also be the same person doing the appointments, so continuity of care.

I have booked an appointment with one for an informal assessment and chat - he’s the one I got the better vibe from (although that might be because he put my mind more at rest, when I was in a bit of a haze of worry yesterday morning).

Yep, DD had her sight test done at Specsavers, and I know what you mean. They have been perfectly adequate for me, but I think DD’s situ is different and needs more proactive and personal attention.