Ortho-k Slows the Progression of Myopia in Children, Study Finds

Orthokeratology can reduce the rate of myopia progression among nearsighted children who wear the specially designed contact lenses, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne (Australia) conducted the study to determine whether overnight wear of ortho-k contact lenses influences the rate of myopia progression in nearsighted children, when compared with myopic children of the same age and degree of nearsightedness who wear eyeglasses.

All children were under age 16 at the time of enrollment in the study. The minimum period of evaluation for each child was two years, and changes in myopia between the two study groups was assessed at two-year intervals for up to eight years.

Children wearing the ortho-k contacts showed a significantly more stable degree of myopia than the control group over all of the two-year evaluation intervals. Also, 64 percent of ortho-k eyes showed an apparent total stabilization of myopia.

The study authors concluded their research provides evidence that orthokeratology can reduce the rate of progression of childhood myopia over the long term.

Read More in the July issue of Eye & Contact Lens

April 2013

Ortho-k Therapy used for Monovision (Study)

A recent study has been done on the effectiveness of using orthokeratology corneal refractive therapy for middle aged presbyopia (nearsightedness) needs.   The monovision technique has been used for years with daytime contact lenses.   Although, ortho-k therapy has also been used by custom contact lens specialists for monovision, this is the first study publicized for orthokeratology effectiveness.   All of the patients in the orthokeratology monovision study achieved the desired results of near vision in the one eye treated, leaving the untreated eye available for distance vision.