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Ortho-K Vision Correction
in The Woodlands

Reshape your vision overnight—no surgery,
no lenses, no downtime

Ortho-K Vision The Woodlands

A Daily Struggle with Glasses or Contacts?

Ortho-K offers a new option for those frustrated with traditional vision correction.
Many patients come to us struggling with glasses that slip, restrict peripheral vision, or simply feel uncomfortable. Others find contact lenses irritating or unreliable—especially during active or demanding days. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to explore a different solution.
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Ortho-K: Clear Vision Without Surgery

Sleep in comfort, wake up seeing clearly—no glasses or contacts required.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is a non-surgical vision correction method that gently reshapes your corneas overnight using custom corneal molds. You’ll wake up with clear, stable vision all day long—no lenses, no surgery. Call us today to find out if Ortho-K is right for you.
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Download a FREE booklet about a better alternative:
a non-surgical, safe, and effective solution.

AFFORDABLE

Less than Lasik,
payment plans
available, everyone
qualifies

REVERSIBLE

The corneas
recover their
original shape when
you discontinue the
treatment

NON-SURGICAL

No burning, cutting
or tissue
destruction, a more
natural approach to
visual freedom

GUARANTEED

The treatment
comes with a 3-
month warranty. Ask
us for the details

WHILE YOU SLEEP

A more natural and
gentle alternative to
change the corneal
curvature.

KID-FRIENDLY

Increase child’s self-
esteem & sports
performance. No
more broken
glasses. FDA
approved

Ortho-k Eye Doctor Near Me

What Is Corneal Molding?

Reshape your vision overnight—no surgery, no daytime lenses.

Corneal Molding (Ortho-K) is a safe, non-surgical technique that uses custom-fitted molds worn during sleep to gently reshape the cornea. By morning, your eyes can focus clearly without the need for glasses or contacts. This FDA-approved treatment is ideal for both adults and children, and has been clinically shown to slow or even halt the progression of nearsightedness in growing eyes. It's a comfortable, reversible, and effective option for those seeking freedom from daytime lenses.
Ortho-k Eye Specialist in The Woodlands

How Does It Work?

Custom molds gently reshape your cornea while you sleep.

When you're nearsighted, light focuses in front of the retina due to the cornea’s shape. Ortho-K uses custom-designed molds, worn overnight, to adjust that shape and allow light to focus properly on the retina. Dr. Arroyo creates each mold using detailed corneal mapping to apply just the right amount of pressure. This non-invasive process improves vision safely and effectively—no surgery required—and is fully reversible if ever needed.
Ortho-k Eye Clinic inThe Woodlands

Is Corneal Molding Right for You?

Freedom from glasses or contacts—without surgery or daily maintenance.

Ortho-K is ideal for active individuals, growing children with myopia, and those who can’t or don’t want laser surgery. It’s especially helpful for athletes, allergy sufferers, screen-heavy professionals, or anyone seeking clear vision without daytime lenses. Safe for children 8 and up, it’s a reliable way to manage nearsightedness while improving quality of life.
Ortho-K Doctor Specialist in The Woodlands

Benefits of Ortho-K

Clear vision, myopia control, and freedom from daytime lenses.

Ortho-K offers a non-surgical way to correct vision while also protecting against worsening myopia in children. It provides clear, glasses-free sight throughout the day and is safe, comfortable, and effective. Patients enjoy lasting results without surgery or daily contact lens use, making it a smart choice for both adults and kids.
WHAT IS ORTHOK?

OrthoK is shorthand for orthokeratology. OrthoK is a vision correction therapy using a specially designed corneal mold that gently reshapes the curvature of the eye to improve vision.

This is the only non- surgical vision correction modality where the patient can see 20/20 vision with their naked eyes. Patients who want to improve their eyesight and who are found to be good candidates for OrthoK are fitted with custom corneal molds (also known as eye shapers) that are worn at night while sleeping.

You can think of orthokeratology like orthodontics. It's somewhat like wearing braces for the eyes, but very gentle braces in the form of specially designed lenses. Just as an orthodontist adjusts braces to straighten teeth, your orthokeratologist will use custom fabricated corneal molds to reshape your eyes until they have reached an optimum vision correction shape.

OrthoK means better vision. Better vision overnight. It is ideal for active people who want freedom from wearing glasses or daytime contact lenses- without undergoing surgery. It is also ideal for children with myopia, also called nearsightedness. Orthokeratology goes by many names. Here are some of the most common: Ortho-K, OrthoK, Corneal Refractive Therapy, CRT, Vision Shaping Treatment, VST, Gentle Shaping System, The Gentle Vision Shaping System, Corneal Molding (CM), Advanced Orthokeratology, Custom Accelerated Orthokeratology, Corneal Reshaping, Wave Front Corneal Molding and Gentle Molding.

In addition, the OrthoK lenses themselves come in a variety of names which can also be confusing but which effectively are all referring to the same thing. Some of the names are: Retainer Lenses, Vision Retainers, Retainers, OrthoK Lenses, Corneal Molds, eye shapers, Wave Lenses, and CRT Lenses. These may differ in design, but they all are used in orthokeratology treatment

DO I HAVE TO WEAR THESE CORNEAL MOLDS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?

If the world stopped turning right now, everything would stay the same, but the reality is that new advancements come out all the time and nothing stays as it was. T

he same is true for Ortho-K. For the time being and based on experience from a large group of individuals, many patients need to wear the molds about 3 times per week, some need them every night and a few just wear them 2 times per week to maintain good functional vision.

In the pipeline, there are new developments under testing that would allow patients to wear the molds once a week or less, which would make this modality of vision correction even more appealing.

HOW DOES ORTHO-K COMPARE TO LASIK?

Both modalities alter the corneal curvature to refocus light on the retina; however, Ortho-K is non- surgical whereas Lasik involves the use of a Laser to ablade and eliminate part of the corneal tissue.

​​​​​​​On the other hand, Ortho-K accomplishes the remodeling of corneal curvature by the use of a corneal mold that gently applies a controlled amount of pressure overnight.

Lasik is permanent surgery that causes tissue removal with risks of scarring or weakening of the cornea foundation.

OrthoK is reversible and the risks of scarring are minimal. There is a 20-year Lasik history, and the latest research suggests that there is a significant risk of corneal ectasia (warpage and bulging) but the full extent of the surgical potential complications are yet to be determined.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO ACHIEVE GOOD VISION AFTER I START ORTHOK TREATMENT?

Vision improvement starts immediately. You may notice it within a few minutes. It is very significant within two hours. Some patients see clearly in as little as one night of wearing OrthoK retainer lenses.

Vision is normally good during all waking hours within the first week. In some patients with higher prescriptions, it can take two to four weeks to achieve good vision.

Because children's eyes are more easily molded, vision improvement generally takes effect more rapidly than it does for adults.

At times the eye will not respond to the original design as expected and your doctor will need to change the design to achieve optimal results.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ORTHOK?

In general, myopes are better candidates than hyperopes, low refractive errors usually get faster results, low astigmatism is better than high astigmatism and overall good ocular surface health is very important to increase the chances of success. There are additional factors to take into account that your doctor will have to evaluate before making a prognosis.

WHO IS NOT A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ORTHOK?

Ortho-K is not for everyone. Overall poor ocular health, distorted or scarred corneas, precarious tear quality, chronic lid disease or eye infections or inflammation.. etc are all a contraindication for Ortho-k. Many of these conditions may be fixed or significantly improved and if so, the patient may become a good candidate.

In the past, a high degree of myopia was a contraindication; nowadays, experienced doctors are successful in treating as many as 10 diopters of nearsightedness.

IF ORTHO-K DOES NOT WORK WELL FOR ME, WHAT'S NEXT?

You simply stop wearing your corneal molds and your vision will return to your initial status. Ortho-K is reversible. Most doctors offer some kind of warranty that will ensure at the least a partial refund and a pair of quality specs if Ortho-K does not work for you.

This is the beauty of this modality; unlike Lasik, there is a money-back option and the procedure is reversible, so no permanent damage can be done.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO BE FARSIGHTED AND NEED GLASSES TO READ. IS ORTHO-K A GOOD OPTION?

As a matter of fact, we are having impressive results in ‘baby-boomers’ willing to get rid of their reading glasses for most tasks. With corneal molding, we can create a multifocal corneal curvature that provides quite good vision at all distances. Of course, not everybody is a good candidate but many low hyperopes with the need for reading glasses may find in Ortho-K a low-risk, affordable and satisfying alternative.

MY EYES ARE ALWAYS DRY AND I CAN'T WEAR CONTACTS. HOW ABOUT ORTHO-K

Since the eyes are close for most of the Ortho-K wearing time, comfort is not an issue. A growing number of patients choose ortho-k due to their intolerance to regular contact lenses.

Also, your doctor may recommend specific treatments to improve your tear quality in conjunction with your vision correction needs. This way, there is a much better chance for success.

ARE THERE ANY PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE?

Yes. There are several payment plan options available; some of them allow financing at a low-interest rate for 12 or 24 months. (See #Affordable Financing)

WHAT WILL MY VISION BE LIKE WHEN I'M WEARING THE ORTHOK CORNEAL MOLDS?
WILL I BE ABLE SEE AT NIGHT? OR WILL I HAVE TO REMOVE THEM IN ORDER TO SEE? You will be able to see while wearing your OrthoK corneal shapers. You will also be able to see at night while wearing them. With your OrthoK shapers, for example, you'll be able to read in bed or watch television before falling asleep. Please note, however, that they are not designed for extended open eye wear.
MY SON PLAYS BASEBALL WITH HIS 'SPORT GLASSES' STRAPPED TIGHT. WILL HE STILL NEED THEM POST ORTHO-K?
Absolutely not. Young kids are excellent candidates and there is an excellent chance that your kid will be seeing 20/20 or better with Ortho-K and without glasses.
I WORK NIGHT SHIFTS AND SLEEP DURING THE DAY. WOULD THAT BE A PROBLEM WITH ORTHO-K?

No, as long as you put in your corneal molds when you go to sleep, it does not matter what time of day you do it. Doctors recommend a minimum of 5-6 hours for proper molding but there are patients that achieve functional, lasting vision with a minimum of 4 hours of wear.

HOW LONG DO THESE ORTHO-K MOLDS LAST?
The corneal molds may last as long as 2-3 years with proper care, but it is recommended replacing them at least every other year. Your doctor will be able to recommend the most appropriate replacement schedule based on your particular case.
HOW DIFFERENT IS ORTHO-K NOW AS COMPARED TO 10-20 YEARS AGO?

The introduction of new materials with high oxygen transmissibility that allows overnight wear with barely any corneal health compromises; computer-assisted corneal topographic technology and the use of state of the art lathing technology allows for much more accurate, predictable and fast corneal molding results.

I HAVE A 9 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL THAT WEARS GLASSES AND PLAYS SOCCER; IS ORTHO-K AN OPTION FOR HER?
Yes, absolutely. Ortho-k or Corneal Molding works best on nearsighted (myopic) individuals with or without astigmatism. Children, for the most part, have excellent tear quality and overall ocular surface health, which provides an optimal prognosis and make them the best candidates. Also, children have much more plasticity than adults, which allows them to get adapted very quickly. Children are very physically active, playing sports, swimming... etc. which makes it very cumbersome the use of glasses or contacts; for this reason, Ortho-k is a great option for children.
MY SON IS PERFECTLY USED TO WEARING HIS GLASSES. WHY WOULD ORTHO-K BE A BETTER ALTERNATIVE?

Ortho-k is not just about 20/20 vision. Generally speaking, myopia or nearsightedness continues to worsen at a faster rate during childhood and teenage years and glasses/contacts will not do anything to stop the ongoing 'myopization' of your child's eyes. Ortho-k, on the other hand, has demonstrated very impressive results in that direction. There are at least four major studies that confirm indeed that Ortho-k HALTS OR at the least SLOW DOWN progression of myopia. The bottom line is that Ortho-k is your best chance for your child's eyes not to be more myopic in the future. More myopia means thicker lenses and more potential eye health issues in the future such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, and retinal detachments.

HOW DOES THIS COST COMPARE TO LASIK?

OrthoK costs generally range from $1,900 to $3,400, depending upon complexity and the age of the patient.

Dr. Arroyo is one of the few doctors in the country successfully treating hyperopia with Corneal Molding technology. Patients with hyperopia are usually more complex than patients with myopia.

   ORTHO-K  LASIK
 DURATION OF PROCEDURE  While sleeping  One Morning
 REVERSIBILITY  Reversible  Non-Reversible
 AVERAGE COST  $2,300 in total  $2,000 per eye
 INSURANCE COVERAGE  Most insurance do not cover  Considered cosmetic, most insurance do not cover
IS ORTHO-K SAFE?

Very safe. Millions of people wear contact lenses in the world, being contact lenses considered a safe option. Corneal Molding lenses have a 2 or 3 fold higher oxygen transmissibility than any soft regular contact lenses; in addition, corneal molds are only worn for a fraction of the time as compared to daily contact lenses.

These two factors make Ortho-k a very safe option. Most common complications include eye irritation and glare upon removal. More serious complications such as acute red eyes and bacterial keratitis are extremely rare but they have been reported in the literature.

HOW ARE ORTHOK CORNEAL MOLDS DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR CONTACT LENSES?

Unlike a standard contact lens, the OrthoK corneal mold is specially curved to exert a gentle pressure on the eye to reshape it, resulting in improved vision. In addition, sophisticated design technology is used to measure thousands of points on an eye's surface and customize the OrthoK lens to fit the unique shape of each patient's eyes.

IS THERE ANY PAIN WITH CORNEAL MOLDING?

None. The same way contact lenses do not involve any pain, corneal molds does not hurt; besides, they are worn while sleeping which diminishes the lens sensation as compared when the eyes are open. However, improper handling, debris, a damage mold... etc may all cause different degrees of discomfort.

HOW LONG HAS THIS VISION CORRECTION MODALITY BEEN AROUND FOR?

Ortho-k started in the 1970's and has been performed worldwide in hundreds of thousands of patients of different ages. It became FDA approved in the USA in 2005.