Unfortunately, due to the birth of Javier this October, I wasn’t able to make it to one of my favorite meetings: the annual meeting and educational conference of the Orthokeratology Academy of America (OAA). This year it was in Phoenix, AZ. I missed a lot of great topics including: controlling nearsightedness, non surgical alternatives to vision correcting eye surgery, new lens designs for -improved corneal reshaping treatment, pediatric Ortho-K, post-surgical vision rehabilitation and new Ortho-K therapeutic treatments were unveiled.
Many of my friends and colleagues were there. Close to two hundred attendees came to Phoenix from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and places as far as Taiwan and Singapore.
I am a member of the Orthokeratology Academy of America (OAA). Its mission is to establish policy and to develop and update protocols and education for doctors performing corneal reshaping (orthokeratology).
Myopia is a progressive condition affecting 1.6 billion children and adults worldwide, with expectations that the number will hit 2.5 billion by 2020. Exciting research now shows that orthokeratology can slow the elongation of the eye which contributes to progressive nearsightedness in children and young adults. 20/20 vision can be restored in as little as one day to one month depending on severity.
Orthokeratology involves the fitting of a specialized contact lens designed to reshape the cornea during sleep much like braces realigning the teeth. In addition, Ortho-K is a less expensive and safer alternative to surgical vision correction. For more information on this process, stop by Bright Eyes or go to www.brighteyesorthok.com and www.okglobal.org.
The other day when I was beginning the follow-up for a patient who is doing Precise Corneal Reshaping, I was handed a small Thank You card.
This patient is a wonderful 10 year old girl, who is very funny. She and her mother were very interested in PCR because the girl’s prescription in her glasses had been increasing every six months – interested enough to drive from Pinellas to the Westchase area of Tampa, several times. When she started, we talked about how PCR might be difficult because her prescription was high, but that it would give her the best chance of minimizing future increases.
Well, after 1 week of wearing the reshaping lenses, she was seeing almost 20/20 without glasses or contacts. She was able to swim and do other summer activities without worry. She was so excited that she wrote the note below:
This is the great thing about being a doctor! Letters like this!
Dr. James Jordan is a colleague of mine from Colorado who specializes in corneal reshaping (orthokeratology). He had the opportunity to talk about corneal reshaping on a local television program called Colorado & Company. He brought a patient along to discuss her results.
You can watch the whole video by clicking here. It is short and summarizes many of the benefits of corneal reshaping including the effectiveness and reversibility of the procedure.
If you are interested in finding out more about Precise Corneal Reshaping, or are wondering if you are a candidate, you can read more about it or call our office.
This is a blog for Bright Eyes Family Vision Care, an Optometric practice in Tampa, FL that is owned by Nathan Bonilla-Warford, O.D., F.A.A.O. Most of my patients know that I like to share information. This will be an additional way for me to share news about events and changes at Bright Eyes and discuss new developments about vision care. I like feedback, so feel free to leave comments!
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