Any age restriction for Ortho-k?

No, both adults and children can wear Ortho-K lenses. The youngest patient we have was 6 years old, her mother worked with her every night and after 2 months, this cute girl was able to insert and remove the lenses by herself under her mom’s supervision. Also, we have few people in their 40’s and 50’s who love the freedom that Ortho-K brings to them. One eye was corrected for distance vision and the other for reading, this is known as “monovision”.

How quickly is my vision to improve with Ortho-K?

Your vision will improve after the first night and it will improve further and stabilise over the next two weeks of Ortho-K wear because your eye shape remodel with the treatment. For higher degrees of short-sightedness and astigmatism will take longer time to achieve optimum vision.

What prescriptions are suitable for Ortho-K?

Ortho-K typically works best for myopia (short-sightedness) between -1.00 to -6.00. The amount of astigmatism reduction depends on the type of astigmatism and amount. The upper limits for astigmatism reduction are 1.50 diopters of “with-the-rule” corneal astigmatism and 0.75 diopters of “against-the-rule” corneal astigmatism. Ortho-K will not have an effect on the internal astigmatism.

Progressive Lenses - All You Need to Know About Progressive Lenses

What are Progressive Lenses?

Progressive lenses or also called as multifocal lenses or varifocal lenses is an ophthalmic lenses that carries graduated prescription in it. This lenses serves optimum vision and clarity at various distances.

It provides a convenient use to you, as one single pair of multifocal spectacle which can serve a multi purpose use such as doing close work (example while reading newspaper, or using smartphones), intermediate distance (example while browsing any website) and also for distance vision (example driving and watching TV).

Who will need Multifocal Lenses?

Those who have vision problem or accommodation issues can use this lens, but the function may vary depend on the visual needs.

Commonly, multifocal lenses best suit for people who are in age category of late 30’s or early 40’s and above. They are known as presbyopic; those who have difficulties in seeing near things (farsightedness) like reading or sewing.

In some cases, progressive lenses can be used to control myopia (nearsightedness) in children too.

Types of Progressive Lenses

This lens fits better according to the brand, level of distortions, or prices and even if it has a perfect fit, some people may have trouble in adjusting with progressive lenses. Below shows few types of multifocal lenses:

Standard Varifocal Lenses: Smooth power graduation from distance down towards reading.
Short Corridor Progressive Lenses: Designed to fit smaller frames
Computer Multifocal Lenses: For office use such as computer and near reading
Premium Progressive Lenses: High range lens with less distortion in reading area
Ground view Multifocal Lenses: Sport lenses that focuses more on intermediate zone
Transition Progressive Lenses: A photochromic lenses that get darkens automatically under UV sunlight

Advantage of Progressive Lenses

With better adaptations of the gradual power in multifocal lenses, you will have a more natural and clear vision in all distances
It is more convenient as you do not require many pairs of spectacles to used in different circumstances.
Do not have lines in the lenses and cosmetically appealing
Easy to adjust in premier multifocal lenses with minimal time and adjustments
Does not limit your vision to certain distances with the center lines as in bifocals, yet it will reduce eye fatigues and provide more comfortable view

Disadvantages of Progressive Lenses

It may takes time to learn on the adaptation process on how to adjust our eyes and neck to the exact clear and comfortable vision zones
There is a temporary vision distortion in all range of lenses but may differ or subject to the frame selections and type of varifocal lenses too
The cost would be higher for less distortion or for more wider reading zones

The cost of Progressive Lenses

Typically, this lens is more costly than a bifocal lenses. The cost of varifocal lenses are based on the lens technology too.

All these lenses are designed for convenient and easy use as they contain countless focus for you and with one pair of multifocal you can use it for all your routine works. For example, a standard multifocal lens may cost RM400+/- to RM1500 and above.

Prices also do depends on your prescription, lens thickness and coatings.

If you are those who have difficulties to read at near distance, or have to remove your current spectacle to read comfortably you may need to get your eyes tested to know weather progressive lenses would solve your problem.

Ophthalmic lens technology is always improving and we are always here to guide you.

Malaya Optical

Progressive Lenses