What orthokeratology costs, and what you actually get for it.
You've probably already searched for a price and found everything from suspiciously low to nothing at all. There's a reason: ortho-k isn't a product with a sticker. It's a service. A custom fitting, lenses designed to your eye, follow-up visits to dial the result in, and replacement lenses over time.
What follows is the honest version: how the pricing works, and what's included when you do orthokeratology (also written ortho-k or ortho k) at COVE.
Why orthokeratology isn't priced like a box of contacts.
A box of soft contacts is a commodity. Ortho-k is a fitting process, and the price tracks everything that process involves.
Corneal mapping and the fitting evaluation
To design lenses to your specific cornea.
Custom lenses (WAVE, CRT, Emerald)
Made for your eyes, not pulled off a shelf.
Follow-up visits
To confirm the fit and your daytime vision, and to adjust if needed.
Lens replacements
On an annual basis, as part of keeping the correction working.
When you compare ortho-k prices, compare what's bundled. A low headline number that excludes follow-up or replacements isn't really lower.
What's included at COVE.
At COVE, ortho-k is a program, not a one-time charge. Your fitting includes the evaluation, your custom lenses, and the follow-up visits to get the result right. We also stand behind it: ortho-k lenses are remade as needed until the fit is right.
For most patients, the first-year ortho-k program at COVE starts around $800 and can run up to about $2,000. That covers the fitting, your custom lenses, and the follow-up visits to dial in the result. Where you land depends on your eyes: a regularly shaped cornea sits near the $800 floor, while a higher prescription, significant astigmatism, or a monovision setup (one eye focused for distance, one for near) moves toward the higher end. If you have VSP or EyeMed, your benefits may lower that cost (more on that below).
The evaluation itself, including the candidacy scans, is at no charge, whether it happens during an eye exam or as its own visit, and you'll leave with your expected cost and what's included before you commit to anything. One caveat: if it's been roughly six months or more since your last eye exam, we may need a current exam first (a normal billed visit) so the doctors know where your eyes are starting from.
Insurance and payment.
Insurance is honestly one of the more confusing parts of ortho-k, because every plan is a little different. Ortho-k is an elective service, so vision insurance doesn't cover it in full the way it covers a routine exam. But depending on your plan, we can often apply part of your benefits toward the cost:
VSP
Your contact lens materials benefit can often go toward your ortho-k lenses.
EyeMed
Your contact lens fitting benefit can often go toward the fitting fee.
What your plan actually allows depends on the specifics, so we need to see your plan to know for sure. We can't quote an insurance estimate sight unseen, but you can call us and we'll walk through your plan with you. Once we see you in person, we'll tell you exactly what it costs with your benefits applied, with no obligation from there. Many families also use HSA or FSA dollars for the rest.
Ask about COVE Plus.
COVE Plus is our in-house flat-pricing plan. Specialty contact lens services are offered at a flat rate as part of the plan.
Why families decide orthokeratology is worth it.
For kids, ortho-k does two things at once: clear daytime vision for most wearers, no glasses or daytime contacts, and it may help slow how fast their nearsightedness progresses. Slower progression lowers the lifetime risk of serious eye problems down the road, which is the part that makes many parents see it as an investment rather than an expense. For adults, it's the freedom of glasses-free days without surgery. We'll help you weigh it honestly for your situation.
Corneal mapping. Custom lens design, most often on WAVE NightLens (we also fit Paragon CRT and Euclid Emerald). Every follow-up visit to dial in the fit. Annual lens replacement. All remade as needed until the fit is right.
The evaluation itself is at no charge, and we review your full expected cost before you commit to anything. No surprises at the fitting table.
Common questions.
Q.01 So how much is it, really? +
The first-year ortho-k program at COVE starts around $800 and can run up to about $2,000, depending on your prescription and how complex the fit is. Simpler corneas sit near the $800 floor; higher prescriptions, significant astigmatism, or monovision land closer to the top. If you have VSP or EyeMed, your benefits may lower that cost. The evaluation itself is at no charge (a current exam, billed as a normal visit, may come first if it's been six months or more since your last one), and we confirm your exact cost before you commit, with no surprises.
Q.02 Is it a one-time cost or ongoing? +
There's the initial fitting, then ongoing cost for annual lens replacement and routine follow-up. We explain both up front.
Q.03 Can I use HSA or FSA money? +
Often yes. Ortho-k is typically an eligible expense. Check your specific plan.
Q.04 Is ortho-k covered by vision insurance? +
Not in full, since it's elective. Depending on your plan, part of your benefits may apply: with VSP, your materials allowance toward the lenses; with EyeMed, your contact lens fitting benefit toward the fitting fee. Every plan is different, so we need to see yours to know what applies. Call us and we'll go over it, and we'll confirm the exact cost when we see you, with no obligation.
Q.05 What if the fit needs adjusting? +
Ortho-k lenses are remade as needed until the fit is right. That's part of the program.
Get a straight answer on orthokeratology cost.
We see orthokeratology patients from New Albany, Gahanna, Westerville, Johnstown, and across Central Ohio, including Columbus. Come in for the evaluation, at no charge, and leave with the expected cost and what's included. We go over the numbers before you commit to anything. If it's been about six months or more since your last eye exam, a current exam (a normal billed visit) may need to come first so the doctors know where your eyes are starting from.