Orthokeratology is a safe and efficient method of vision correction. However, improper maintenance of contact lenses and solutions can increase the likelihood of corneal ulcers and eye infections. Eye infection risk factors include improper lens cleansing and disinfection, inadequate hygiene practices, and smoking. This risk will be minimised if you adhere to your consultant’s sanitation protocol and undergo routine evaluations.
Before Handling Ortho-K Lenses
Before handling, removing, or inserting your ortho-k lenses, you should always thoroughly cleanse your hands with antibacterial hand soap and dry them with a clean, lint-free towel. Be sure to thoroughly scrub and dry your hands, including the spaces between your fingertips.
Place a lint-free cloth and a wastebasket on a table or desk while seated. Bathrooms typically contain the highest number of pathogens in the residence. You are more likely to accidentally discharge your Ortho-K contact lenses down the drain if you rinse them over a basin.
Examine your lenses for scuffs, shards, and fractures. Do not wear lenses with chips or cracks, as they can cause discomfort and pain.
The Cleaning Process
After removing your Ortho-K contact lenses each morning, they should be cleaned. Here is how you can do that.
Step 1: Place the Ortho-K lens on your palm and administer two to three droplets of lens cleaner. Rub both sides of the lens gently for at least twenty seconds.
Step 2: Rinse the Ortho K lens with saline solution over a waste container.
Step 3: Place the Ortho K lens in the lens casing, fill it with a conditioning solution, and let it marinate overnight. The conditioning solution is a germ-killing disinfectant.
Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for the second lens.
Guidelines To Follow
The following recommendations are intended to assure your safety during ortho-k treatment:
- Before managing contact lenses, always cleanse hands with cold, cream- and deodorant-free soap.
- Always sanitise and disinfect your contact lenses before reinsertion after removal.
- Follow the lens care recommendations of your consultant precisely.
- After each use, clean and air-dry the contact lens case.
- Always consult your consultant before switching cleaning products.
- Replace lens casings periodically.
- Consult your consultant for a recommended duration for the use of opened bottles of solutions – typically 30 to 60 days.
- Never reuse solutions. Throw away any used solutions immediately.
- Never use saliva to moisten a contact lens or place one in your mouth.
- Never use homemade saline solution.
- Never store contact lenses in non-sterile fluids such as municipal, bottled, home-purified, or distilled water.
Warning Signs: If an eye becomes inflamed or unpleasant while wearing a contact lens, the lens must be removed immediately. If the problem persists after removing the lens, consult an eye doctor immediately. Make a last-minute appointment if necessary.
