The prevalence of myopia among children in China has been rising annually. Influenced by environmental and academic factors, adolescence is a period of rapid myopia progression. Myopia prevention and control remain a focal concern for ophthalmologists. Among optical correction methods, orthokeratology (OK) stands out as one of the most effective approaches due to its ability to reduce myopic defocus in the mid-periphery of the cornea and improve accommodative function.
What causes myopia progression?
Bolin Eye Hospital explains: Beyond genetic predisposition, many cases of myopia develop due to acquired adverse factors. Most myopia occurs during school-age or adolescence, with degrees gradually increasing before stabilizing in adulthood.Therefore, poor visual habits during adolescence can significantly accelerate myopia progression and lead to high myopia. Additionally, inaccurate refraction and prescription, or failure to rule out pseudomyopia, can also contribute to increased myopia.
Myopia causes elongation of the eyeball's axial length, which acts as a "speedometer" for a child's myopia progression. By comparing axial length measurements taken at two or more intervals, doctors can accurately predict the degree of myopia progression over a specific period.Eye axis lengths vary across different age groups, so the predicted progression rates differ accordingly. Some children exhibit faster eye axis development than their peers at a young age, making them more susceptible to high myopia later in life. Once elongated, the eye axis cannot shorten—just as a person's height cannot shrink after growth. Unconventional remedies like eye exercises, eye patches, or myopia treatment devices cannot reverse eye axis elongation or eliminate existing myopia.
Why can orthokeratology lenses control myopia progression?
Orthokeratology lenses are specially designed rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses featuring reverse geometry multi-curve designs. Worn overnight, they achieve reversible reshaping of the cornea, creating a myopic defocus in the peripheral retina. This enhances daytime uncorrected visual acuity while slowing axial length growth, thereby controlling myopia progression.
While eyeglasses primarily correct central vision, light rays entering the periphery focus behind the retina, rendering them ineffective in controlling myopia progression.
Who is best suited for orthokeratology lenses?
1. Adolescents aged >8 years with myopia <600 diopters experiencing rapid progression.
2. Adults unwilling to wear spectacles yet desiring good uncorrected vision, plus certain individuals requiring medical examinations.
Prior to fitting, patients must undergo a series of rigorous examinations and assessments, including anterior segment evaluation, corneal topography, binocular vision testing, dry eye screening, and fundus examination. Only those deemed suitable through these evaluations may proceed to trial fitting. The trial phase is critical—proper wear according to medical instructions, regular follow-up examinations, and timely monitoring of outcomes ensure safety.
Founded in 2016, Platinum Eye Hospital specializes in adolescent myopia prevention and control. As a leading nationwide ophthalmic chain in both clinic scale and medical expertise, it pioneered the "risk prediction and precision prevention" approach to youth myopia management.