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.

@OhYouBadBadKitten I think my DD would be the same… can see the chances of success being massively affected by how much she likes them.

Glad your daughter loves them. Sounds like it’s been a great choice for you.

@mateysmum North West, the opticians I’ve been in touch with are Taylors Opticians and Maskell + Associates.

@chachagabor Glad it’s working out for your DC. I’m in North West.

Interesting that all of us that have good experiences seem to have used local, independent opticians with whom we and our DCs have developed a good rapport and received excellent personal service.

Nice to know that there are still some things that small businesses can do really well that the chains can't match.

I'm the opposite end of the country so can't help there.

@EssCee.... I’ve messaged you

I agree that these small independents are much better for anything other than bog standard, here are some glasses/contacts.... if not for anything continuity of care.

I think dds astigmatism is -0.75 in one eye.

Thanks @esscee and OYBBK. I think DD is too far gone as she is 3.25ish (but wouldn’t have been at the time I asked) but DS last test was beginning to show signs of astigmatism too so I will be off to my local supplier to check it out - there is one nearby 👓

Good luck @Nowtherainhasgone

Hi. My husband has very poor eye sight and a detached retina. When he went to the optician today they asked if he had children and if he'd thought about MiSight (our daughter recently started wearing glasses and had a prescription of -1). I said I'd do some research on it and found this post. Out of interest have you done anything further?

Hi @JSSB… My DD was assessed for Ortho-K lenses but her eyes were unsuitable (due to corneal astigmatism, I believe... the astigmatism isn't present in her prescription but the Ortho-K lenses would have brought it out). So, that led us to the MiSight Lenses option which the same optican also offered, which we had considered as the fall-back option (as she couldn't wear them for swimming, etc.).

For the past 1.5 weeks, she has been using the trial pack of MiSight contact lenses and has got on very well with them so far. She’s been finding it tricky to insert them but has no problem taking them out. So, to avoid adding stress to the situation, I have decided to help her with insertion until we get into a solid routine with it. She wore them to school this week for the first time, and has been wearing them up to 10 hours per day.

My main concern now is that her astigmatism gets too bad for these lenses. It seems I have a habit of worrying...😒

How old is your daughter?

Thanks for your response. She is 7 almost 8. We hadn't even heard of these lenses until yesterday but my husbands optician has strongly recommended them for her because of his medical history. We spoke to her about it last night and she was totally freaked out about having something in her eye but if it's something that could prevent her eyes deteriorating like my husbands were keen to give it a go.

Hi @JSSB I understand your worry with the family history. Your daughter is the same age as my DD, and she’s been great so far with them (although it could be a novelty factor… she likes telling people as it’s a very grown up thing to do, it seems).

Do either you or your husband wear contact lenses? I showed DD how I put mine in... showing that it's no big deal. I also showed her a Youtube video of a girl wearing Ortho-K lenses (which was what we were going to go for originally).

At least you've planted the seed... maybe you can continue working on it. Maybe your daughter might be more interested once her prescription is -1.5 in both eyes - I think this is the threshold for full time glasses? Glasses can get in the way of some sports and that could be a way to get her more interested?

I'd say too... a good optician who is patient and nice is pretty key!

My 7 year old DD has also recently started wearing the MiSight lenses as she has a similar prescription to EssCee's DD. The optician at a large chain recommended orthok unofficially to us, even though they don't do them as she thought the research was impressive. We then found an independent optician who recommended MiSight rather than orthok for comfort reasons and have been using them successfully since. I put them in and DD takes them out, we are scrupulous about hygiene.

We obviously won't know how successful they are for a while, but we think it is worth the £40 a month to give her a chance of not being as short sighted as DH and I are, or worse.

The key is finding a good, patient optician and the hygiene. No more than 10 hours a day and a day off a week is the advice we were given. Hope this helps.

Hi there, I know it’s been a long time, but keen to know how you got on. My just turned 8 year old has started Ortho Ks 2 weeks ago, she is -4.5. However it is a real struggle to get them in and out. I think we might have to stop them. It is horrible to see her so upset, but given her high prescription it would be a shame.

I realise I'm commenting on an old thread but there's so much info on here, it's great.
Seriously considering Ortho-Ks for our 13 yr old. It's been interesting reading all this.
If any of the original posters are still around I'd love to hear how you're getting on now.

@Fiona7728 sorry you're finding it hard. My ds is a bit older so I'm hoping he might find it easier, but I'm not sure he'll put up with the initial discomfort to get the benefits. We've got an appointment in a couple of weeks with the optician to talk through our options.

@Knitwit99

I realise I'm commenting on an old thread but there's so much info on here, it's great. Seriously considering Ortho-Ks for our 13 yr old. It's been interesting reading all this. If any of the original posters are still around I'd love to hear how you're getting on now.

@Fiona7728 sorry you're finding it hard. My ds is a bit older so I'm hoping he might find it easier, but I'm not sure he'll put up with the initial discomfort to get the benefits. We've got an appointment in a couple of weeks with the optician to talk through our options.

I’m still here and still wearing mine. They work just as well as they always did 😀

Hi all of you, a quick question. How do you know eye sight /degree level after wearing ortho-K?

My optician said we will not be able to know how slowly the myopic goes until he is 18!? Because you need to stop wearing ortho-K for 4 weeks and have an eye check? Is that true? Thanks

How are you getting on @EssCee and everyone else?
My DD 8 has just been told to consider misight and I’m keen to find out more first-hand experience from you all about them and the ortho-k alternative. Thanks.

@8obby I have experience of ortho k you can pm me if you want.

@8obby My daughter was found to be unsuitable for Ortho-K because of astigmatism, so ended up on Mi-Sight daily soft lenses instead. The optician then changed her again to another brand, as her myopia was progressing more than liked. My daughter is now 9 and I still pop them in for her, and she takes them out. They are daily lenses so there is no cleaning needed, she just puts them in the bin.

My daughter is on -5 too, even with the treatment. Who is to say what it could be otherwise though (esp as both her parents have poor eyesight). Her optician is going to continue her with her current lenses for longer, although did mention other possible options that we might consider in the future - e.g. monthly lenses (higher max wear time = more myopia control time) and myopia control glasses (not currently available in UK).

The Mi-Sight lenses were instantly comfortable for my daughter and weren't too big to insert really. They are quite floppy though! The soft lenses she has now are less floppy but ARE bigger so took a bit of adjustment.

Obvs the downside of the contact lenses is that they can't be worn swimming or all the time. So, in some ways less 'insert and forget' than Ortho-K.

Overall, we're continuing for now as she likes the freedom of not wearing glasses and I feel there is some myopia control benefit (even if it's still progressing).

Thanks for replying - sorry only getting a chance now to reply myself.
Do you see a specialist optician out of your local area? Ours is an independent one but just local - I’m wondering if this is good enough?

Ours is about 30 mins away. I spoke to 3 and really liked the optician we spoke to (very sympathetic, expertise, knowledge, etc.). Where are you based? If you're near Cheshire, I can PM you the one we use, who has been fantastic.

*really liked the optician we chose