Orthokeratology is a popular form of vision correction in kids and is used to treat myopia progression

 

Orthokeratology is fast becomming a popular form of optical correction, especially in children. Otho-k is popular for children because it is the one of the best method available to reduce myopia progression. Of the various treatments available for myopia progression, Ortho-K has been around the longest and has been studied the most exenstively.

 

Multiple studies provide strong evidence that ortho-k can reduce myopia progression. A recent article in the journal Optometry & Vision Performance summarized the studies in a table, which is reproduced below. The studies show that orthokeratology can reduce myopia progression by an impressive 85-93.5% and it slows the elongation of the eyeball, which is what causes the blurred vision of myopia.

 

A recent study published in the July 2013 issue of the journal Eye & Contact Lens is the latest in a long line of studies that have shown that orthokeratology is effective in stopping or slowing the progression of myopia in children.

 

A study published in the September 2013 isue of the journal Optometry & Vision Science has determined which children benefit the most form orthokeratology treatment for myopia progression. There are a number of factors that a doctor must consider in selecting the right candidates, this includes taking complicated anatomical measurements of the patient's eye anatomy. The study demonstrates that orthokeratology is a complex area and patients should see an orthokeratology expert to ensure that they are getting the greatest benefit from the treatment.

 

In 2018 a study was published proving the effectiveness of orthokeratology by comparing myopia progression in a group of children (age 7-13 years) who were treated with orthokeratology for 12 months with a group of children who were not treated. There was a significant reduction in myopia for the children who used orthokeratology. The scientists also mensured the axial length of the eye because in people with myopia, the axial lengh of the eye gets longer as the eye ball elongates. Increasing axial length in myopic people is the reason why myopia can lead to bindness. In the children who used orthokeratology, axial length increased at rate almost 10 times slower than the kids who did not use orthokeratology. Source: Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2018 May;62(3):327-334.