(Republished by kind permission of Eyenews, the original article can be found here, where a download version is available)

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours, abstaining from food and drink between dawn and sunset each day. Ramadan 2021 starts on 12 April and ends around 11 May, depending on the first appearance of the moon around this date.

The Antares Corneal Topgrapher, and other similar instruments, can revolutionise care for contact lens and dry eye patients, enabling an appreciation of the cornea in three dimensions, showing high points, overall and localised curvature, just like an ordinance survery map of the land, but on a micro-scale. This can enable contact lenses to be designed for each individual patient, as each cornea has unique characteristics, just like a finger print. Simply Ortho-K (see below) is not possible without corneal topograhy. It also has great imaging potential for dry eye patients, enabling infra-red imaging of the vital meibomian glands and tear film analysis. Watch the highly interesting video, then email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more about this state-of-the-art instrument and how it could help you with your contact lens wear and/or dry eye.

What is Ortho-K and does it mean I'm contact lens and spectacle free through the day?

Orthokeratology is the programmed application of retainer contact lenses that gently change the shape of the cornea, in a controlled way, while asleep! On taking the retainers out when waking, the cornea retains its new programmed corrected shape allowing clear vision for the rest of the day, without (this is the clever part) surgery, contact lenses or glasses. Then before going to sleep again at night they are worn once more. This has many advantages, some of which are:

• Non-surgical vision improvement without glasses or contact lenses

• Easy, safe and effective in use

• Comfortable, convenient and reversible

• Suitable for certain careers/sports/activities in which need to be glasses-free or contact lens-free like: swimming, water sports, athletes, pilots, police etc. or when in dusty environments

• Feel free to shower, swim, use sauna as normal

• No end of day contact lens discomfort or blur

• No contact lens dehydration or spectacle fogging due to face mask wear

It may sound a little amazing, it can be explained another way. Something that most people have heard of and can relate to. That is orthodontic treatment for teeth? Most will know or have heard of this especially in regard to teenage children.  In orthokeratology, a retainer lens is worn at night during which it adjusts the shape of the cornea. As in orthodontics, you take out the retainer and your vision remains newly adjusted throughout the day. To maintain good day time vision, the ‘vision retainer’ is simply worn at night. To discuss if this may be suitable in advance of a visit to Andrew D Price at the Nantwich clinic email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If using the handrub technique with alcohol, gel or foam etc ensure none is left on your hands before touching your eyes, lids, contact lenses or eye drop bottles etc.