New research published in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye suggests that physically active adults and children favor orthokeratology (ortho-k) as their preferred method of myopia management.
Tell me more.
Researchers compared the quality of life in 49 children (ages 9 to 17) and their parents (48 adults, ages 18 to 26) who actively (and for at least 3 years) use ortho-k lenses, spectacles, or soft contact lenses for myopia. They were surveyed using the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile 2 (PREP2) and scored on seven categories: vision; activities; symptoms; appearance; peer perception; handling; and overall satisfaction. (via)
What did they find?
Scores were assessed between age groups, correction groups, and between children and their parents. Responses indicated that, in all categories, both groups agreed that using ortho-k lenses while participating in physical activities led to significant advantages.
Talk numbers.
The duration of myopia correction use was 8 ± 3 for adults and 5 ± 2 years for children (both p < 0.01). Adults wearing ortho-k lenses were more satisfied with vision (p = 0.04), activities (p < 0.001), and overall (p = 0.03) compared to spectacle wearers.
Conversely, children wearing ortho-k lenses reported higher scores for activities compared to soft contact lens wearers (p = 0.048) and spectacle lens wearers (p < 0.001). (via)
Anything else?
The study was a first-of-its-kind proxy assessment, specifically evaluating parents’ perception on how they believed their child might respond to wearing different types of correction. While the results suggest active children perceive the benefits of ortho-k, parents are even more partial to contact lens use for an active lifestyle, ease of handling, and for appearance comparatively to glasses.
The take home.
These results reinforce the need for eyecare practitioners to be more proactive in discussing ortho-k lenses or soft contact lenses as myopia management options for pediatric and adult myopia patients with active lifestyles.