ORTHOKERATOLOGY FOR MYOPIA CONTROL

Purpose – to evaluate the effectiveness of orthokeratological (OK) correction and the customization of orthokeratological lenses (OKL) through specialized programs in the treatment of progressive myopia among children. Material and methods A retrospective study was conducted on the correction of progressive myopia ranging from (-2.0) to (-6.75) diopters in two groups of children aged 7 to 16 years, each comprising 150 participants. The study was conducted over the period of 2021-2023, utilizing both standard and customized OKLs. Examination methods included visometry, biomicroscopy, ultrasound biometry (performed every 3 months), keratometry, and keratotopography. Results In the group treated with customized lenses, the average change in the axial length growth of the eyeball was 0.14 mm±0.06 mm. In the group using standard OKLs, 13% of the children showed a change in the axial length growth in the range of 0.31±0.07 mm. In the remaining 87% of the children in the first group, the axial length growth averaged 0.13 mm±0.05 mm. After the first night of wearing OKL, visual acuity improved to more than 0.1 in all patients, with 30 patients achieving a visual acuity of over 1.0. Conclusion The study demonstrated an inhibitory effect of OKL on the progression of myopia, confirmed by refractive indices and ultrasound biometry over the two-year period. The results obtained support the recommendation of OK-therapy, using customized programs, as an effective method for controlling progressive myopia. Key words: orthokeratology, myopia control, myopia progression, customized lenses, axial elongation, refractive error, vision correction