I have a young progressive myopic patient. Do you recommend corneal reshaping? If so, how can you help me, and what do I need to provide you?
“Yes, absolutely. Certification in corneal reshaping is a must. Understanding the process is also important. As a consultant, I find that Ks, refraction, and HVID are important. Corneal topography, both pre- and post-wear, will help to follow the progression of change and determine treatment changes needed. Refraction both over lenses and without lenses can also help determine any needed lens changes.” (Dede Reyes, FCLSA, ABB Optical Group)
“Yes, corneal reshaping would be a good option. It’s best to have a corneal topography when fitting this type of lens. From the maps we can design the best fit to meet the patient’s needs.” (Kelsey Roberts, Valley Contax)
“Corneal reshaping or orthokeratology has come a long way over the last few years. We now have designs that not only reshape the cornea but can also provide peripheral defocus to hold back axial length changes.” (Mike Johnson, Art Optical)
“We do recommend corneal reshaping for myopia management. As with any lens design, the more information provided, the better the fit outcome. The most recent Ks and refraction, along with HVID and patient history, are enough to get started with a lens design. Having a topographer is required, and most topography maps provide all of the information needed to fit a patient empirically and yield the best results. Certainly, visual acuity measurement at various stages post-fit will help tell the story of any issues. Additionally, providing differential maps at one day and one month confirm the success of the fit. Fluorescein images upon first fit and at follow-up can also be helpful.” (Derrell James, X-Cel)
What resources can help increase my knowledge about corneal reshaping lens designs?
(Consumer brochures on corneal reshaping and myopia management are available on this website.)
“Look toward the CLMA and the GPLI as associations that can increase your lens knowledge. There are also other groups that specialize in each of the lens modalities, and they can be a good resource.” (Jeff Birk, Essilor)
“Corneal reshaping is a true option for anyone wanting to experience good vision without spectacles or traditional contact lenses during the day. A newly released helpful tool is a book called Contemporary Orthokeratology by Dr. Michael Lipson.” (Keith Parker, Advanced Vision Technologies)
“As myopia control has become more widely utilized, the resources have expanded tremendously. We provide many training guides on our website, along with a veteran consultation team that has been providing guidance in orthokeratology since the approval of the process. We also work with other companies in providing contract manufacturing services for these and other specialty contact lenses. Having confidence in the consultants and choosing a lab with broad expertise ensure the best clinical outcomes. As noted earlier, it’s all about clinical training and readiness to tackle whatever appears in the doctor’s chair, so research options on the lab’s website, talk to the consultants, or schedule a webinar or face-to-face in-office fitting.” (Derrell James, X-Cel)