If you are interested in orthokeratology as an alternative to improving your visual acuity because you do not want to wear glasses, daily disposable lenses or undergo surgery, you should know that it is not a cheap solution. Unlike glasses and contact lenses, orthokeratology is not considered medically necessary. It's elective or cosmetic, so your health or eye insurance likely won't cover the cost.
Table of contents
- Orthokeratology costs
- price fluctuations
- Cost of Ortho-K versus LASIK
- secure
- Financial help
While your insurance may not cover it, a connected health savings account can offset some costs. There are also no free options or financial support for orthokeratology as it is not considered medically necessary.
What is the cost of orthokeratology in 2022?
Like other types of eye care,Orthokeratology price ranges. The total cost depends on where you live, your doctor's experience, your choice of general practitioner, your insurance, and the number of custom lens pairs you want or need.
As of July 2021, the typical cost of a premiereOrthokeratology (u Ortho-K), ranges from $1,000 to $4,000. This includes an eye exam, eyeglass fitting, and some follow-up care.
Your costs increase if you have to correct a higher ametropia. Because? Because it means you need more than one fitted lens (or more than one pair of fitted lenses).
For people with low refractive errors, the cost should be between $1,000 and $2,000 to have contact lenses in both eyes. Higher refractive errors can increase the cost to $4,000.
Retention lenses cost between $300 and $500 and require you to have regular eye exams and replace your hard contact lenses several times to maintain corrected vision.
The cost for the second and subsequent years of Ortho-K use is approximately $650. This covers the price of:
- A follow-up
- Updated corneal topography measurements
- New, upgraded or replacement lenses
- Removal of current lenses
Additional lenses are about $150 per lens ($300 per pair).
price fluctuations
You pay more if you live in a big city and work with an optometrist or ophthalmologist in a private practice. The overall cost of living in larger cities like Chicago, New York, San Francisco, or Dallas is higher than in residential, rural, or less densely populated suburbs.
This means that all doctors have a harder time setting up their practices. Private practice involves more financial costs than working in a larger clinic with other professionals. You may consider going to an eye clinic that offers multiple specialists in one location, giving you access to a variety of eye treatments, including orthokeratology, but paying less overall.
It is very important to pay a little more for quality care. All types of doctors, including ophthalmologists, charge their fees for specific specialties. They spend a lot of time training themselves to be experts and making sure they have access to the best technology.
The Ortho-K procedure uses a series of hard, gas-permeable contact lensesreshape your corneafor one to four weeks. Then you wear "retention" contact lenses at night after your cornea has been reshaped to temporarily correct your refractive error. The process is a bit like getting braces, except that when you stop wearing your retention contacts, your vision will return to its original refractive error after a few days.
Cost of Ortho-K versus LASIK
It's important to note that the initial cost of Ortho-K is approximately half that of LASIK. Cost comparisons show:
- Orthokeratology costs between $600 and $1,200 per eye, although complex cases can cost $2,000 or more per eye. This cost does not include additional costs for replacement lenses, doctor follow-up appointments, and lens solution.
- LASIK costs about $1,500 to $2,500 per eye.
Both orthokeratology and LASIK require follow-up visits from a trained ophthalmologist to monitor eye health over the years and treat any side effects or infection that may arise. These treatments will likely be billed separately, but the cost is about the same. Much of the cost of both is borne out of pocket as both LASIK and orthokeratology are considered cosmetic procedures in most cases.
If you are interested in orthokeratology as an alternative to improving your visual acuity because you do not want to wear glasses, daily disposable lenses or undergo surgery, you should know that it is not a cheap solution. Unlike glasses and contact lenses, orthokeratology is not considered medically necessary. It's elective or cosmetic, so your health or eye insurance likely won't cover the cost.
While your insurance may not cover it, a connected health savings account can offset some costs. There are also no free options or financial support for orthokeratology as it is not considered medically necessary.
Can health insurance pay for orthokeratology?
Your standard vision insurance and standard health insurance will not cover orthokeratology treatments as they are considered an elective procedure. However, affiliated health insurers can help you cover some of the cost of orthokeratology and follow-up eye exams. You can use the following types of health savings plans:
- Flexible Spending Account or FSA
- Health Expense Account or HSA
- § 125
- Flex 125
- tax savings plan
- Mensaplan
In most cases, these are employer-sponsored benefits, but if you pay for your own vision insurance or health insurance, these companies may offer a plan where you can pay and be reimbursed.
As tax season approaches, you can use your tax refund to apply for orthokeratology treatments. You may be able to work with the eye group on a payment plan or raise the money yourself by putting money aside, setting up a crowdfunding program, or using a credit card and then paying off the balance over time.
Is there financial support for eye treatments such as orthokeratology?
IsThe National Eye Institute (NEI) lists the optionsfor free eye exams, free glasses and even contact lenses, or financial help for those basic eye care treatments. However, free treatment is not available for elective procedures such as orthokeratology, LASIK, or other options.
Surgery and non-surgical eye preservation, such as cataract or glaucoma treatments, are available free, at low cost, or with government support because they are serious conditions that can lead to blindness, which is a public health concern. Treating refractive errors with more comprehensive treatments beyond everyday glasses or contact lenses is not considered a public health crisis, so there are no programs to pay for these options.
However, if you are undergoing orthokeratology surgery and are experiencing serious side effects due to poor hygiene or working with an inexperienced optometrist who has not fitted your contact lenses properly, you may be eligible for financial assistance to address these issues. The best way to avoid this situation is to see the best possible eye doctor in your area who understands the orthopedic process.
references
- Orthokeratology (Ortho K) costs and financing. (March 5, 2021). CareCredit.
- Ortho-K kostet. (2021). Insight Eyecare Vision-Quelle.
- Ortho-K. American Optometry Association (AOA).
- What is orthokeratology?(September 13, 2018). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
- Ortho-K and corneal refractive therapy: overnight contact lenses to correct myopia. Everything to do with seeing.
- Financial help for eye care. . . . (19. Mai 2021). National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The information on this page should not be used in place of information from a doctor or specialist. For more information see ourPrivacy Policyjeditorial policypages
FAQs
How much is a pair of Ortho-K? ›
Orthokeratology ranges from $600 to $1,200 per eye, although complex cases can cost $2,000 or more per eye. This cost does not include any additional costs for replacement lenses, follow-up doctor appointments and lens solution. LASIK costs about $1,500 to $2,500 per eye.
Why is Ortho-K not covered by insurance? ›Insurance plans do not cover Ortho-K. Because Ortho-K lenses is considered elective, most vision insurance policies do not cover it. However, most people find that the cost of this treatment is well worth the results.
Why does Ortho-K cost so much? ›Why Does Ortho-K Cost More Than Standard Lenses? The lenses are designed for your eyes only — and customized products always cost more. The extra time, personalized attention and high-quality material used to ensure a perfect fit all add to the cost.
What is the prescription limit for Ortho-K? ›Orthokeratology can be effective on farsighted, nearsighted (myopic), and astigmatic patients. Ideally, your prescription should be in the range of +2.00 to -6.00 with no more than -1.75 diopters of surface astigmatism. In some cases your Orthokeratologist will attempt higher prescriptions.
Can you use HSA for orthokeratology? ›Orthokeratotomy is eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).
What are the long term side effects of Ortho-K? ›Iron rings or arcs, and white deposits or lesions, have been reported due to long-term wear of ortho-K lenses. Lesions in particular were associated with a long-term duration of treatment, including wearing the retainer lenses for months or years. Corneal thinning.
How many years does Ortho-K last? ›How often will I have to replace my ortho-K Contact lenses? We recommend replacing an ortho-K lens every 1-2 years depending on its condition.
How long do I need to sleep for Ortho-K? ›How long do I need to sleep at night for this to work? The recommended wearing time for ortho-k is 7-8 hours a night. This varies from person to person. If you sleep less than that, then the change in corneal shape will not be as great and the clear vision may fade during the day.
Do you have to wear Ortho-K forever? ›Is Ortho-K Permanent? Ortho-k does not permanently correct your vision. Because ortho-k is temporary, the lenses need to be worn every night to maintain clear vision during the day.
Are Ortho-K lenses worth it? ›Orthokeratology is an excellent option for all adults who need myopic prescriptions. It's also great for those who have lesser degrees of astigmatism. Additionally, ortho-k is often used as a proven treatment method for farsightedness (hyperopia) and age-related hardening of the eyes' lenses (presbyopia).
How many hours does it take for Ortho-K to work? ›
Though you may see some improvement in your vision after a day or two of overnight Ortho-K, it can take several weeks for the full effect to be apparent. During this time, your vision will not be as clear as it was with glasses or contacts, and you are likely to notice some glare and halos around lights.
Can I still wear glasses after Ortho-K? ›Some of our patients are happy wearing their lenses every second night and still enjoy clear vision for their daily activities. If you were to take a short break from Ortho-K treatment, you can wear the low-strength glasses or soft contacts we provided you with to see clearer. How do I look after my Ortho-K lenses?
Does Ortho-K give 20/20 Vision? ›Vision Results from Orthokeratology
The ideal goal is to provide 20/20 vision without any need for eyeglasses or contacts during the day. According to FDA trials conducted on both CRT and VST lenses, more than 65% of ortho-k patients achieved 20/20 visual acuity.
- Never rinse Ortho-K Lenses or cases with tap or bottled water.
- Do not wear Ortho-K Lenses while in the presence of noxious substances.
- Do not use hairspray around the Ortho-K Lenses.
- Do not use Boston Simplus cleaner.
- Do not get alcohol on the Ortho-K Lenses.
Orthokeratology is eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).
How much do night contacts cost? ›Extended wear contact brands and types include brands, such as Air Optix Night & Day by Aclon, which retail for around $45 a box for six lenses, and Biofinity by CooperVision, which retails for around $65 for a box containing six lenses.
Is eyelid surgery covered by FSA? ›Yes, eye surgery is eligible for reimbursement with both an HSA and an FSA. Any eye surgery for vision correction, improvement, or the treatment of a condition or disease related to eye health or eyesight falls under that category.
How do you take Ortho k out? ›Using their finger to pull the skin at the outside corner of the eye to their ear will increase lid tension against the globe. Finally, the wearer should blink forcefully. As the wearer blinks, the upper and lower lid will pass between the lens and the eye and “pop” the lens out.
Do all treatments have side effects? ›A side effect is an unwanted symptom caused by medical treatment. All medicines can cause side effects, including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines.
Can you wear Ortho-K while awake? ›Can you wear ortho-k lenses during the day? Yes. Ortho-k contact lenses were first used as daytime contacts, so they can be safely used for that purpose. However, because orthokeratology lenses are reshaping the eye, they are not the most comfortable lenses and are typically better worn at night.
Why are Ortho-K lenses not popular? ›
Optometrists are no strangers to orthokeratology (ortho-k), yet many tend to prefer to stick with treatment options they're most comfortable with, saving ortho-k for when nothing else works. The problem with this practice is that it overlooks ortho-k's enormous clinical potential and risks it becoming a dying art.
What is the risk of Ortho-K lenses side effects? ›Potential complications significantly associated with OrthoK include MK, corneal staining, and lens binding. There are other clinically insignificant side effects such as epithelial pigment deposit and increasing visibility of fibrillary lines, and transient changes of corneal biomechanical properties.
Are Ortho-K worth it? ›Orthokeratology is an excellent option for all adults who need myopic prescriptions. It's also great for those who have lesser degrees of astigmatism. Additionally, ortho-k is often used as a proven treatment method for farsightedness (hyperopia) and age-related hardening of the eyes' lenses (presbyopia).
Does Ortho-K give you 20 20 vision? ›Vision Results from Orthokeratology
The ideal goal is to provide 20/20 vision without any need for eyeglasses or contacts during the day. According to FDA trials conducted on both CRT and VST lenses, more than 65% of ortho-k patients achieved 20/20 visual acuity.
This improved vision can last up to two days. Ortho-k is commonly used as a treatment to eliminate conditions like astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia.