Is disposable Ortho-K coming? Malaya Optical examines Menicon’s MCOK-01 Australian trial, frequent-replacement Ortho-K research and what we know so far.
Disposable Ortho-K? What We’re Hearing About Menicon’s New Australian Ortho-K Research
Could Ortho-K eventually move from long-term reusable lenses to a much more frequent replacement system?
Something interesting is happening in the world of orthokeratology.
Through industry channels, Malaya Optical has learned about ongoing discussions exploring a new approach that could change how frequently Ortho-K lenses are replaced.
The information is still developing.
The industry has not yet disclosed all the details, and we cannot independently confirm whether researchers are exploring a yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, or entirely different replacement schedule.
But what caught our attention is that these discussions coincide with some very real developments involving Menicon and Ortho-K research in Australia.
Menicon is currently sponsoring an Australian clinical trial involving a new investigational Ortho-K lens known as MCOK-01.
Separately, Menicon has publicly reported successful development of cast-moulding technology for “frequent replacement orthokeratology lenses.”
Are the two connected?
That has not been publicly confirmed.
But it is certainly something worth watching.
Last updated: September 2026
First: What Have We Actually Heard?
Let’s separate what we’re hearing from what has actually been confirmed.
Through industry channels, we have become aware of discussions surrounding the possibility of an Ortho-K system involving more frequent lens replacement than many conventional Ortho-K wearers are accustomed to today.
Exactly what that means remains unclear.
Could it mean replacing the lenses every few months?
Monthly?
Weekly?
Could Ortho-K eventually become something approaching a disposable lens?
At the moment:
We don’t know — and we don’t want to pretend that we do.
We have not seen verified public information confirming the final replacement schedule.
For now, Malaya Optical is treating what we have heard as early industry information rather than an announced Menicon product specification.
However, when we started looking deeper, we found several publicly documented developments that make the subject particularly interesting.
Menicon Is Conducting a New Ortho-K Clinical Trial in Australia
The first piece of the puzzle is MCOK-01.
Menicon is sponsoring an Australian clinical trial known as SEMOA, investigating an Ortho-K lens identified as MCOK-01.
The registered study is:
“A Prospective, Multi-centre, Single-Arm Clinical Trial of Orthokeratology Lenses (MCOK-01) in Subjects With Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism.”
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:
NCT07047924
Study identifier:
MCOK-3-AUS
The trial plans to involve up to 220 participants in Australia.
Participants wear MCOK-01 overnight and are followed for up to 12 months, with assessments scheduled throughout the study.
Australian research institutions and eye-care centres associated with the research include major university optometry centres.
This tells us something important:
MCOK-01 is a real investigational Ortho-K lens undergoing structured clinical evaluation.
But there is another detail that is even more interesting.
Menicon Is Also Developing “Frequent Replacement” Ortho-K
In August 2026, Menicon published information following presentations at BCLA Asia 2026 and the 68th Annual Meeting of the Japan Contact Lens Society.
Among the developments highlighted by Menicon was the:
successful development of cast-moulding technology for frequent replacement orthokeratology lenses.
That wording immediately caught our attention.
Not simply a new Ortho-K design.
Not simply another rigid contact lens material.
Frequent replacement orthokeratology lenses.
Menicon also highlighted a presentation concerning:
“New Possibilities for Rigid Contact Lenses Opened up by Cast-Molding Technology.”
This gives us something concrete.
Menicon has publicly acknowledged work involving technology intended for frequent-replacement Ortho-K lenses.
What Menicon has not publicly established is exactly what “frequent replacement” means for a future commercial product.
Is MCOK-01 the Frequent-Replacement Ortho-K Lens?
This is the question we’re watching most closely.
At the moment, we cannot confirm it.
There are currently two pieces of information:
1. Menicon is conducting the MCOK-01 Ortho-K clinical trial in Australia.
2. Menicon has separately discussed successful cast-moulding technology for frequent-replacement Ortho-K lenses.
It is tempting to connect the two.
But until Menicon, researchers or regulatory documentation establishes that connection, we should not present it as fact.
That’s exactly why we’re following this story.
Could This Be “Disposable Ortho-K”?
Possibly.
But the word disposable needs to be used carefully.
When most people hear “disposable contact lens,” they immediately think of a soft contact lens that is opened, worn once and discarded.
That is not what has been confirmed here.
A “frequent-replacement” Ortho-K lens could potentially mean many different things.
For example:
| Possible Replacement Model | Confirmed for MCOK-01? |
|---|---|
| Approximately yearly | Not publicly established as the final replacement schedule |
| Every 6 months | No |
| Every 3 months | No |
| Monthly | No |
| Weekly | No |
| Daily disposable | No |
At this stage, none of these should be presented as the confirmed MCOK-01 replacement schedule.
That uncertainty is part of what makes the research interesting.
Could It Be Monthly Ortho-K?
There is actually a reason this possibility deserves attention.
Separate research has already investigated monthly replacement of Ortho-K lenses.
Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have studied monthly replacement using Menicon Z Night and Menicon Z Night Toric lenses.
The research compared approaches involving:
Ortho-K lenses replaced every month
with
conventional longer replacement intervals.
Researchers examined areas including lens deposits, ocular effects and axial elongation.
Importantly:
This is not the Australian MCOK-01 trial.
We therefore cannot use that study as proof that MCOK-01 will be a monthly lens.
But it demonstrates that monthly replacement Ortho-K isn’t merely a hypothetical idea.
It has already been investigated.
What About Weekly Ortho-K?
This is currently much more speculative.
We have not found reliable public evidence confirming that MCOK-01 is intended for weekly replacement.
However, if new manufacturing methods allow complex Ortho-K geometries to be produced more efficiently and consistently, shorter replacement cycles become an interesting possibility.
For now:
Weekly replacement remains a question, not a product specification.
Could Ortho-K Eventually Become Daily Disposable?
This would be the most dramatic possibility.
Imagine this:
A child opens a fresh Ortho-K lens at night.
They wear it while sleeping.
They remove it the following morning.
Instead of cleaning and storing that same lens for another night, it is discarded.
The next evening, another fresh lens is used.
That would represent a major departure from conventional Ortho-K.
It could potentially change the conversation around lens storage, repeated handling, deposits and long-term lens condition.
But there is one very important point:
We currently have no verified public evidence showing that MCOK-01 is a daily disposable Ortho-K lens.
Until evidence emerges, daily disposable Ortho-K should be regarded as an interesting future possibility—not an announced Menicon product.
Why Cast-Moulding Could Change Ortho-K
This may ultimately prove to be the most important part of the story.
Ortho-K isn’t like an ordinary spherical soft contact lens.
The lens incorporates carefully designed curves that interact with the cornea during overnight wear.
Traditionally, rigid specialty lenses are manufactured very differently from mass-produced disposable soft contact lenses.
Menicon’s public discussion of cast-moulding technology for frequent-replacement Ortho-K is therefore particularly noteworthy.
If complex Ortho-K designs can be reliably reproduced through new manufacturing methods, it could potentially make producing replacement lenses at shorter intervals more practical.
That does not tell us whether the eventual interval will be:
daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or something else.
But it may help explain why frequent-replacement Ortho-K is being explored.
Why Would You Want to Replace Ortho-K More Frequently?
Today’s Ortho-K lenses are reusable.
Every night they are handled, inserted and worn.
Every morning they are removed, cleaned, disinfected and stored according to the prescribed care system.
This process repeats hundreds of times.
Over time, clinicians may need to consider factors such as:
- lens deposits
- scratches or physical lens condition
- changes in fit
- prescription changes
- corneal changes
- handling and hygiene
- treatment response
This makes the concept of scheduled fresh replacement interesting.
However, we need to be careful here too.
It cannot yet be assumed that more frequent replacement would automatically make Ortho-K safer, more effective or better at controlling myopia.
Those questions require clinical evidence.
Could Frequent Replacement Make Ortho-K Easier for Children?
Potentially—but again, this needs research.
For parents considering Ortho-K for childhood myopia management, one of the important considerations is lens care.
Children and parents need to understand correct:
- insertion
- removal
- cleaning
- disinfection
- storage
- hand hygiene
- follow-up requirements
More frequent replacement might change some aspects of lens care.
A truly daily system would change it considerably.
A monthly system would be different again.
Until we know what Menicon is actually developing commercially, however, it is too early to say how the patient experience would change.
Why This Could Matter for Myopia Management
This development is particularly interesting because Ortho-K isn’t used only to provide clear daytime vision.
Appropriately fitted orthokeratology is also one of the options used in childhood myopia management.
At Malaya Optical, our approach to myopia management goes beyond simply checking whether a child can see clearly.
Depending on the child and management strategy, assessment and monitoring can include measurements such as:
- refractive error
- axial length
- corneal measurements
- myopia progression
- treatment response
- long-term progression trends
Different children may require different approaches.
Current options can include Ortho-K, myopia-management spectacle lenses, specialised soft contact lenses and other clinically appropriate strategies.
A new generation of frequently replaced Ortho-K could eventually add another dimension to those choices.
What Is Confirmed—and What Is Still Under Wraps?
This is where we currently stand:
Confirmed
Menicon is conducting an Australian clinical trial involving MCOK-01.
MCOK-01 is an investigational overnight Ortho-K lens.
The Australian study follows participants for up to 12 months.
Menicon has publicly discussed successful cast-moulding technology for frequent-replacement Ortho-K lenses.
Monthly replacement Ortho-K has been investigated separately using Menicon lenses.
Not Yet Confirmed
Whether MCOK-01 is the same frequent-replacement technology Menicon has publicly discussed.
The intended replacement schedule for MCOK-01.
Whether it will be monthly.
Weekly.
Or it could eventually be daily disposable.
When or whether the investigational product will become commercially available.
Whether it will eventually come to Malaysia.
That is the distinction we want to maintain as this story develops.
Why Malaya Optical Is Talking About This Now
Because developments in myopia management can move quickly.
As optometrists working with myopia management and specialty contact lenses, we believe it is important to follow emerging technologies before they arrive on Malaysian shelves, not only after they become widely available.
Through industry channels, we became aware of discussions surrounding developments in Ortho-K replacement.
Some details remain under wraps.
When we investigated further, we found publicly documented Menicon research that made those discussions particularly interesting.
We could wait until everything is announced.
Instead, we think there is value in sharing what is known, what we’re hearing and—most importantly—what remains unknown.
We are not claiming that Menicon has launched disposable Ortho-K.
It hasn’t.
We are not claiming that MCOK-01 is monthly, weekly or daily.
That has not been publicly established.
What we can say is that frequent-replacement Ortho-K is being actively explored, and Menicon is one of the companies pushing that research forward.
What We’re Watching Next
This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
There are several things we are particularly interested in.
1. The MCOK-01 Replacement Schedule
This is the big one.
How frequently is the physical lens intended to be replaced?
2. MCOK-01 and Cast-Moulding
We want to know whether the MCOK-01 programme is connected to Menicon’s publicly discussed cast-moulded frequent-replacement Ortho-K technology.
3. Australian Trial Results
Clinical outcomes will ultimately matter much more than rumours.
4. Safety
We will be watching for evidence involving adverse events, corneal health, lens condition and other clinical outcomes.
5. Myopia Management
We will be particularly interested in what the technology could mean for children with progressive myopia.
6. Commercialisation
A successful research programme does not automatically mean a product will reach the market.
7. Malaysia
There has been no confirmed Malaysian launch of MCOK-01.
If that changes, we’ll update this article.
Is This the Future of Ortho-K?
It is too early to know.
But something interesting is clearly happening.
Menicon is studying MCOK-01 in Australia.
Menicon has publicly discussed frequent-replacement orthokeratology lenses.
Cast-moulding technology is opening new possibilities for rigid contact-lens manufacturing.
And separate researchers have already investigated monthly replacement Ortho-K.
Put those pieces together and there is a very interesting question:
Are we approaching an era where an Ortho-K lens is no longer expected to remain in use for such a long period before scheduled replacement?
Maybe.
Whether that eventually means monthly, weekly, daily or another replacement schedule remains under wraps.
For now, we’re watching.
Malaya Optical will continue following the MCOK-01 Australian research and Menicon’s frequent-replacement Ortho-K developments. As credible new information becomes available, we will update this page.
Interested in Ortho-K in Malaysia?
You don’t need to wait for future technology to learn whether today’s Ortho-K may be suitable for your child.
Malaya Optical provides comprehensive myopia assessments and Ortho-K fitting for suitable patients, supported by our optometrists and ongoing monitoring.
For children undergoing myopia management, we can monitor more than spectacle prescription alone. Measurements such as axial length and other biometric information can help us evaluate how the eye is growing and how myopia is progressing over time.
There is no single myopia-management option that is right for every child.
The appropriate approach depends on factors including age, prescription, axial length, progression, corneal characteristics, eye health, lifestyle, maturity and treatment response.
Speak with a Malaya Optical optometrist about Ortho-K and the myopia-management options currently available in Malaysia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Menicon developing disposable Ortho-K lenses?
Menicon has publicly discussed successful development of cast-moulding technology for frequent-replacement orthokeratology lenses. However, that should not yet be interpreted as confirmation of a commercially available daily disposable Ortho-K lens.
What is MCOK-01?
MCOK-01 is an investigational Ortho-K lens being evaluated in a Menicon-sponsored clinical trial in Australia involving people with myopia and myopic astigmatism.
Is MCOK-01 a disposable Ortho-K lens?
That has not been publicly confirmed. This is one of the developments Malaya Optical is following closely.
How often will MCOK-01 be replaced?
The eventual replacement interval has not been publicly established. We therefore cannot currently confirm whether it will be yearly, monthly, weekly, daily or another schedule.
Is monthly Ortho-K possible?
Monthly-replacement Ortho-K has already been investigated separately using Menicon Z Night lenses. However, that does not establish that MCOK-01 will use the same replacement schedule.
Is daily disposable Ortho-K coming?
We have not found reliable public evidence confirming a daily disposable MCOK-01 lens. It remains a possible future concept rather than a confirmed product specification.
Is MCOK-01 available in Malaysia?
No Malaysian commercial launch has been publicly confirmed. MCOK-01 remains associated with the investigational research discussed in this article.
Does Malaya Optical currently offer Ortho-K?
Yes. Malaya Optical provides Ortho-K fitting and myopia-management assessment for suitable patients. Existing Ortho-K should not be confused with the investigational frequent-replacement technology discussed in this article.
Important Note
This article discusses emerging research and early industry information.
MCOK-01 is an investigational product in the research described above. References to possible monthly, weekly or daily replacement schedules are questions about potential future applications and should not be interpreted as confirmed specifications for MCOK-01 or any future Menicon commercial product.
Where information comes from industry discussions rather than published research or official Menicon information, we have deliberately identified it as such.
Malaya Optical will update this article when further verified information becomes publicly available.