Can orthokeratology prevent myopia? Can orthokeratology correct myopia?

Myopia has always been the most important issue for students and children. Orthokeratology is the latest method of correcting myopia, which allows you to correct your vision while sleeping. So can orthokeratology prevent myopia? Can orthokeratology correct myopia?

Can orthokeratology lenses prevent myopia?

It is said that if you wear this kind of lenses to sleep, your myopia will be gone when you wake up in the morning. Do you know what price you have to pay for such a magical effect? ​​The degree of myopia in our country is already 800 to 900 degrees at three years old. The doctor said that it can reduce the burden of wearing glasses and the eyes will be less tired. He recommended that I wear orthokeratology lenses. Xiao Zhi, who is currently a senior, laughed and said that in fact, I was a little obsessed with beauty at that time. I felt that wearing glasses made me ugly and I couldn’t find a boyfriend. I saw many classmates around me wearing orthokeratology lenses, and I envied them, so I wanted to give it a try.

However, because of the severity of myopia, I was unable to completely reduce the degree of myopia at first. After wearing glasses, I went back to the hospital for a check-up and found that one eye still had 200 to 300 degrees and the other eye had 100 degrees. I still had to wear ordinary glasses to see clearly during the day. In addition, due to the increased academic pressure in high school, I inevitably did not get enough sleep, so I often did not wear glasses enough. It was not until one or two years later that I was able to completely get rid of glasses.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is mainly to wear specially designed ultra-high gas permeable hard contact lenses at night when sleeping, which uses the plasticity of corneal epithelium to compress the cornea, flatten the curvature of the central area of ​​the cornea (our black eyeball), and adjust the imaging focus from falling in front of the retina due to the elongation of the eye axis to falling on the retina. It is a non-invasive vision correction method that does not require surgery and is relatively safe; plus the cornea rebounds slowly, once the curvature is stable, you can have clear vision even if you don't wear any lenses during the day.

It seems perfect, but orthokeratology lenses still have their limitations. Zheng Huichuan, director of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mackay Memorial Hospital, said that different brands have different limitations. Generally speaking, orthokeratology is more effective for myopia between 400 and 600 degrees and astigmatism within 200 degrees. Therefore, patients with high myopia like Xiaozhi will still have residual degrees.

He also repeatedly emphasized that this can only temporarily adjust the curvature of the cornea. If you want to have clear vision, you have to wear it continuously. Moreover, the softness of each person's cornea is different. For some people, the curvature of the cornea can be stabilized after wearing it for 3 or 5 days. After wearing it for 6 to 8 hours as instructed, you can maintain clear naked vision for 12 to 14 hours. However, he has also encountered a few patients who have to wear it for 1 to 2 weeks before it slowly stabilizes.

Can orthokeratology lenses correct myopia?

Orthokeratology lenses are a type of hard contact lens that is usually worn at night and removed the next morning. They use the physical shaping effect of the lens surface to reduce myopia and achieve good vision. However, this myopia correction effect is temporary and must be worn consistently to maintain good vision.

The center of the orthokeratology lens is designed to be slightly flatter than the center of the cornea, and slightly steeper in the mid-periphery. In this way, the lens will "flatten" the center of the cornea and "convex" the mid-periphery. This forms a microscopic concave lens effect, so that the image of the external scene moves back to the retina after entering the eye, so that myopic eyes can obtain clear and bright vision.

Possible risks of orthokeratology lenses

Due to the influence of factors such as environment and individual differences, there is still a risk of eye diseases such as corneal endothelial cell reduction and giant papillary conjunctivitis even if orthokeratology lenses are used correctly.

If the glasses are not fitted as required, it is more likely to lead to increased eye secretions, eye congestion, visual changes, foreign body sensation and other phenomena, which will increase the risk of eye diseases such as corneal ulcers, keratitis and corneal erosion. If treatment is delayed, it may also cause permanent vision damage.

If the eyes are uncomfortable during use, consumers should seek professional treatment in time. If there is any violation of the law, they can report it to the local food and drug regulatory department in time.