Helping Kids See Clearly: Understanding Ortho-K for Myopia Management

By April Jasper, OD, FAAO

As an optometrist, one of the most important roles I play is helping children maintain not just good vision—but healthy eyes for life. Myopia (or nearsightedness) is on the rise, and while glasses can help kids see, they don’t address the core issue: progression.

That’s why I’m passionate about myopia management, and one of the most effective tools in our toolbox is orthokeratology—also known as ortho-K.

In this article, I want to walk you through what ortho-K is, who it’s for, what the process looks like, and why I’ve seen it transform not just vision, but confidence in kids.