Ortho-K Lens Care Guide

Nish Fofaria • 18 February 2026
Ortho-K Lens Care Guide UK | NHS & College of Optometrists Standards

๐Ÿ”ฌ Ortho-K Lens Care Guide

UK Standards | NHS & College of Optometrists Guidelines

๐Ÿ”ด RED = RIGHT EYE   |   ๐Ÿ”ต BLUE = LEFT EYE

โš ๏ธ CRITICAL: Centre Placement Required

You MUST place the lens on the CENTRE of your eye (cornea).
Off-centre lenses will NOT work and may cause poor vision or corneal distortion.
The lens must sit directly over the coloured part of your eye (iris).

โš ๏ธ Medical Safety Notice

Orthokeratology lenses are regulated medical devices in the UK. The College of Optometrists mandates that patients must be warned about the increased risk of infectious keratitis with overnight wear. Minimum 6 hours wear time required for effective corneal reshaping. If you experience pain, redness, or blurred vision, remove lenses immediately and contact your optometrist or local A&E.

๐Ÿฅ NHS Context

Ortho-K is a private treatment in the UK and not funded by the NHS. However, your child may still receive NHS sight tests. Regular aftercare every 6 months is essential. Consult your optometrist for costs and payment plans.

๐ŸŽจ

Lens Colour Identification

Your Ortho-K lenses are colour-coded to prevent mixing up prescriptions. Always check the lens colour before insertion:

๐Ÿ”ด
RIGHT EYE
Red tinted lens
๐Ÿ”ต
LEFT EYE
Blue tinted lens
Memory Tip:"R" for Red = Right, "L" for Left = Blue (both 4 letters). Always insert the same eye first consistently—recommended: RIGHT (Red) first, then LEFT (Blue).
๐ŸŽฏ

The Importance of Centre Placement

๐ŸŽฏ Centre the Lens on the Cornea

The lens must be placed directly on the centre of your cornea(the coloured iris area).

De-centred lenses will not produce the desired myopia reduction and may cause:
• Poor visual acuity during the day
• Localised corneal distortion
• Ineffective treatment

Check: The lens should cover the coloured part of your eye symmetrically.

Clinical Note: According to professional fitting guidelines, centration is the key to successful ortho-k treatment. Without good centration, the "treatment zone" will not be centred over the pupil and optical axis of the eye.
๐Ÿ‘๏ธ

Evening: Lens Insertion

1 Prepare
  • Wash hands with antibacterial soap (no moisturisers)
  • Dry with lint-free towel
  • Check lens colour: ๐Ÿ”ด Red = Right, ๐Ÿ”ต Blue = Left
  • Inspect lens for debris or damage
2 Fill the Lens Bowl

Place lens concave-side-up on index finger. Fill completely with preservative-free saline (e.g., Sodium Chloride 0.9%). Do not let solution spill.

3 Insert - CRITICAL STEP
  • Pull upper lid up with non-dominant hand
  • Pull lower lid down with middle finger
  • Look straight ahead into mirror
  • Place lens DIRECTLY ON CENTRE of cornea (coloured iris)
  • Ensure lens is centred - not touching the white part (sclera)
  • Wait 2-3 seconds, then slowly release lids
โš ๏ธ CRITICAL: If the lens is not centred on the cornea, it will NOT work. Remove and reinsert if off-centre.
4 Verify Centration
  • Check lens is centred on the cornea (coloured part)
  • Ensure even coverage over the iris
  • Check for air bubbles (dark spots)
  • Confirm lens is not touching the white sclera
  • Blink slowly to settle lens
5 Repeat for Second Eye

Insert ๐Ÿ”ต Blue (Left) lens using same procedure, ensuring central placement.

โฐ Minimum Wear Time: 6 Hours
Important: For effective corneal reshaping, you must wear Ortho-K lenses for at least 6 hours. Optimal wear time is 6-8 hours during sleep. Do not wear during daytime hours.
๐Ÿงผ

Morning: Removal & Cleaning Routine

๐Ÿ“‹ Step-by-Step Post-Removal Care

1
Remove Lens

Use suction tool or manual removal method. Always check lens colour to confirm which eye it came from (๐Ÿ”ด Red=Right, ๐Ÿ”ต Blue=Left).

2
Apply Multipurpose Solution

Place lens in palm of hand. Apply several drops of rigid gas permeable multipurpose solution. UK available brands: Menicare Plus, Boston Simplus, or Menicare Pure.

3
Rub for 30 Seconds

Gently rub both sides of lens with fingertip for exactly 30 seconds. Use circular motion. This removes debris and protein deposits.

00:30
4
Place in Case

Put the lens into the correctly marked side of the lens case (R=Red/Right, L=Blue/Left).

5
Fill Halfway

Fill the lens case compartment only halfway with fresh multipurpose solution. Do not overfill —if over-filled, the lens may ride up and be damaged by the lid.

โš ๏ธ Critical: Filling halfway prevents lens damage and allows proper cleaning action.
6
Repeat for Left Eye

Remove the ๐Ÿ”ต Blue (Left) lens and repeat steps 2-5.

โœ… DO

  • Rub for full 30 seconds
  • Fill case halfway only
  • Use fresh solution daily
  • Match colour to correct eye
  • Centre lens on cornea
  • Replace case every 3 months

โŒ DON'T

  • Use tap water ever
  • Overfill the lens case
  • Mix up red/blue lenses
  • Reuse old solution
  • Skip the rubbing step
  • Place lens off-centre
๐Ÿฅ

UK Aftercare Requirements

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง UK Professional Standards

According to the College of Optometrists:

  • Your optometrist must explain the increased risk of complications with overnight wear
  • You must be given an out-of-hours contact number for emergencies
  • Regular aftercare every 6 months is mandatory
  • An overnight trial fitting is required before beginning treatment
  • You should be taught to recognise signs of infectious keratitis
Emergency Contacts: If you experience severe pain, redness, or vision loss, go to your nearest A&E or contact your optometrist immediately. Do not wait for your next appointment.
๐Ÿ“‹

Daily Quick Reference

Evening (Bedtime)

  1. Wash hands
  2. Check colour: ๐Ÿ”ด Red=Right first
  3. Fill lens with saline
  4. Centre on cornea (iris)
  5. Insert Right (Red)
  6. Insert Left (Blue)
  7. Verify centration
  8. Sleep 6-8 hours minimum

Morning (Removal)

  1. Wash hands
  2. Remove Right (Red)
  3. Rub 30 sec with solution
  4. Place in case, fill halfway
  5. Remove Left (Blue)
  6. Rub 30 sec with solution
  7. Place in case, fill halfway

๐Ÿ”ด Red = Right | ๐Ÿ”ต Blue = Left | ๐ŸŽฏ Centre on Cornea | โฐ 30 sec rub | ๐Ÿงด Fill halfway

Sources: College of Optometrists Guidelines, NHS York Teaching Hospital, Myopia Focus UK, Boston Materials Clinical Guide

Ortho-K is a private service in the UK. Ensure your practitioner is registered with the General Optical Council.

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