Ortho-k Lens Care Instructions

Congratulations on your new ortho-k lenses! Maintaining good hygiene and adhering to the recommended compliance schedule is crucial for ensuring the success and safety of your ortho-k lens wear. To ensure you have all the information you need, we have prepared a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) specifically for new wearers like you. This resource will be a helpful guide for any potential refreshers you may need. Get ready to embrace the incredible benefits of ortho-k lenses and enjoy the excitement of this transformative vision correction option.

Always: Wash your hands before handling lenses, clean and disinfect your lenses daily, inspect lenses carefully before placing on eye

Never: Use tap water to rinse lenses

Below are PDF files of specific steps for ortho-k lens wear instructions

Watch to learn how to apply and remove your ortho-k lenses

To maintain your ortho-k lens wear, you will need some lens care products.

Here are recommendations:

  • Sterile Saline Solution (for rinsing lens, do not ever use water from tap or sink as this can increase risk of severe eye infections)

    • PuriLens Plus Preservative Free Saline

    • Menicon Lacripure Sterline Saline (98 individual vials)

  • Cleaning Solution (store lenses during the day in a cleaning solution)

    • Menicon Unique pH

    • Tangible Clean

    • Clear Care Hydrogen Peroxide - Triple Action Cleaning (do not use HydraGlyde as this is made for soft lenses and will coat your ortho-k lens with deposits).

      • Make sure to follow instructions precisely! The lens must neutralize in the Clear Care case for 6+ hours.

      • Hydrogen Peroxide can cause chemical burns on the cornea, leading to pain, stinging, redness, and tearing and even a corneal abrasion or ulceration. If you get hydrogen peroxide in your eyes before the solution has neutralized (less than 6 hours), immediately flush eyes with a sterile saline solution or artificial tear drops to rinse solution out of the eye.

  • Eye Drop Tears (place in the bowl of the lens for increased comfort for application and removal)

    • Refresh Optive Preservative-free tears

    • Oasis Tears Plus Preservative-free

    • Natural Ophthalmics Ortho-k Thick (for night-time insertion)

    • Natural Ophthalmics Ortho-k Thin (for morning removal)

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Ortho-k Lens Care FAQs

Person holding a contact lens above an open contact lens container with other lens supplies nearby.

  • You remove your ortho-k lenses in the morning.

    Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Remove one lens and gently rub it with an approved ortho-k cleaning solution for 15-20 seconds. Place the in a clean lens case. Fill the case with fresh, new solution.

    Repeat for the 2nd lens.

    Your lenses should be clean and ready to wear by the nighttime!

  • You need a specific cleaning solution approved for gas-permeable contact lenses.

    There are 2 types of cleaning solutions that we recommend.

    1. Multipurpose Solution that cleans, conditions, and disinfects. These are created specifically for gas permeable contacts and should not to be used for soft contact lenses.

      • Boston Simplus

      • Menicon Unique pH

    2. Hydrogen Peroxide - this can also be used for soft contact lenses.

    • Clear Care - Triple Action Cleaning

  • You need a cleaning solution specifically for gas-permeable contact lenses.

    There are 2 types of cleaning solutions that we recommend.

    1. Multipurpose Solution that cleans, conditions, and disinfects.

      • Boston Simplus

      • Menicon Unique pH

    2. Hydrogen Peroxide

      • Clear Care - Triple Action Cleaning

  • NEVER!

    It is crucial to never use tap water for ortho-k lens care. Tap water can contain Acanthamoeba, a microscopic organism that can cause severe eye infections.

    Use saline solution to rinse lenses.

    Always use recommended lens cleaning and disinfection solutions.

  • You should replace your solution every single morning when you place your lenses in their case.

    At night after lens insertion, discard the used solution and rinse it down the sink. Store your lens case and lids upside down to allow proper air-drying overnight.

  • Replace your ortho-k case every 3 months or with use of a new bottle.

    Regularly replacing your lens case ensures a clean and safe environment for your ortho-k lenses, minimizing the risk of contamination and promoting proper lens care practices.

  • Yes, rubbing the lenses help physically remove any debris and deposits on the lens for our tears. This helps maintain the effectiveness of the ortho-k treatment.

  • Clean and disinfect your lenses immediately if you drop them on the floor.

    Place lens in the palm of your hand and cover the lens with a gas-permeable lens solution. Rub the lens with cleaner for 30 seconds on both sides.

  • Yes, using re-wetting drops, or artificial tears can help with the comfort of wearing your ortho-k lenses.

    Prior to insertion, place 1 drop of preservative-free artificial tear in the bowl of the lens before placing on the eye.

  • Always remove lenses immediately if they feel uncomfortable or irritate the eyes.

    Inspect lenses for chips, cracks, or a foreign object such as lint or an eyelash.

    Rinse lens with saline solution, place a re-wetting drop in the bowl of the lens and place it on eye.

    If lens continues to feel uncomfortable or irritate the eye, do not wear the lens that night. Call Innovative EyeCare to schedule an appointment for further examination.

  • When traveling, ensure that you have an adequate supply of cleaning and disinfecting solutions. Pack your lenses in your contact lens case and tighten lens case lid to prevent leaks.

    Cleaning solutions are available in travel sizes to allow travel for carry-on luggage.

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