By Ann Gould

There's a new type of vision correction that allows contact lens wearers to go without corrective lenses in the day reports "Hawkes Bay Today" a daily Newspaper in New Zealand. The new eyewear commonly referred to as ortho k  lenses have recently been fitted to ten local patients to improve their eyesight.

Ten short-sighted locals have been using ortho k lenses, a night time contact lens that temporarily corrects vision by gently flattening the cornea. Ortho k lenses are worn while sleeping, allowing people to eschew normal daytime corrective contact lenses and glasses during the day.

Ortho k lenses  have been used in New Zealand for about four years now, but Tim Eagle at Shattky on Russell Optometrists said this was the first time the technology has been used in Hawke's Bay.

Ten patients, aged between 10 and 49, have been using the lenses since December 2009 and they met up recently to talk about the success of the new ortho k treatment.

Sam Heath, who has a mild form of short-sightedness (myopia), said the lenses were far more convenient than glasses or daytime contacts. They were especially beneficial for surfing and other watersports.

He noticed his vision correction lasted only until about 8pm at first. But day by day the effects lasted longer and after six months he found that he could even miss a night or two without consequence.

Others patients commented that their ortho-k lenses were more comfortable. Many of them found that their eyes became dry, irritable and sore when wearing regular daytime contact lenses all day.

Mr Eagle said: "The most recent research released is that ortho-k lenses can halt the progress of myopia. This is huge news. If you can halt the progression of children's myopia, then they can be less reliant on glasses and lenses in the future."

If you shortsighted and would you like to find out if you are suitable for ortho k lenses then fill in this quick suitability test