Retrospective data analysis of the 10-year effect of Ortho-K lenses on myopia progression in caucasian children and adolescents

Purpose. International studies describe a slowing of myopia progression by fitting orthokeratology contact lenses (OKL) between 36 % and 60 %. The aim of this study was to examine the long-term effectiveness of fitting OKL for myopia prophylaxis in caucasian children and adolescents over a period of 10 years.

Material and Methods. A retrospective analysis of myopic, caucasian children and adolescents who were fitted with OKL in a German contact lens institute from 2012 to 2022 was performed. The selection was randomized from 3012 OKL fittings that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Files of 30 children and adolescents, aged between 10 and 17 years, who were fitted with OKL over a period of 10 years were selected and analysed.

Results. The analyzed test group consisting of 11 male and 19 female subjects had an average age of 12.3 ± 1.53 years at the beginning of the fitting. Over a period of 10 years, there was an average change in the spherical equivalent of myopia of −0.39 ± 0.19 D for the right eye and −0.54 ± 0.22 D for the left eye. The eyes were compared with literature reference values and showed an age-adequate emmetropisation of 0.42  D (p > 0.05) over the 10-year period. Visual acuity remained constant over the entire period (p > 0.05).

Conclusion. This study showed that OKL could reduce the progression of myopia to the physiological emmetropisation value in caucasian children and adolescents aged 10-17 years from Germany over a period of 10 years.