Final answer:
Ortho-K is a non-invasive method that uses specially designed contact lenses to temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing for the correction of vision issues such as myopia and hyperopia. Unlike LASIK, a surgical laser vision correction, Ortho-K's effects are reversible, and normal vision returns when the lenses are no longer used.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ortho-K, or Orthokeratology, refers to b) A non-invasive method reshaping the cornea with specially designed contact lenses. Unlike surgical procedures such as LASIK, which uses a laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea, Ortho-K involves the use of rigid gas-permeable contact lenses that the patient wears overnight. These lenses temporarily alter the curvature of the cornea to correct vision issues like myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). It's a reversible process and can be an option for those not ready or suitable for laser vision correction procedures.
The Ortho-K lenses apply gentle pressure to reshape the cornea, which has the majority of the eye's focusing power. Small adjustments in the cornea's shape can significantly impact vision because the cornea accounts for about two-thirds of the eye's total refractive power. This reshaping adjusts the way light enters the eye, aiming to improve vision to a point where glasses or contact lenses aren't needed during daytime hours.
While LASIK and similar laser vision correction techniques are surgical methods that offer a more permanent solution, Ortho-K provides a temporary and less invasive alternative. When one stops wearing Ortho-K lenses, the cornea gradually returns to its original shape, and normal vision is restored, unlike the permanent results achieved through LASIK.