MYOPIA MANAGEMENTCommunicating to Parents and Patients
Jessica Liaw OD, FAAO
- Ortho-k cannot reverse myopia; it can only slow its progression
- No age limit; success can start at an early age with adequate parental support and child maturity
- Greater time commitment: one day, one week, one month, then follow-up visits every 3 – 6 months
- Easier parental oversight, is sports-friendly, and fewer dry eye symptoms versus soft lenses
- No pharmaceutical side effects
- High safety profile with good lens hygiene compliance. Low microbial keratitis (MK) incidence: 7.7 cases per 10,000 patient-years in children.1
- More recent studies suggest the incidence of MK is lower than previous studies and similar to rates associated with use of daily soft contact lenses.2
Sources
- Watt KG, Swarbrick HA. Trends in microbial keratitis associated with orthokeratology. Eye Contact Lens. 2007 Nov;33:373-377; discussion 382.
- Bullimore M, Mirsayafov D, Khurai A, et al. Pediatric Microbial Keratitis with Overnight Orthokeratology in Russia. Eye Contact Lens. 2021 July;47:420-425.