Children wearing ortho-k have been shown to have slower rate of myopic progression than those wearing single-vision spectacles (Cho et al. 2005) or soft lenses (Walline et al. 2009). Younger myopic children (aged 6-10 years old) may have the faster increase in myopia than old myopic children (aged 11-15 years old), i.e. the rate of myopic progression may be different in different age groups and in children with different refractive status (Edwards 1999; Fan et al. 2004; Cheng et al. 2007). Although the refractive correction with ortho-k has been well documented, it is unknown whether the efficiency and reversibility of ortho-k for myopic reduction as well as myopic control are similar in children of different age and refractive groups.~In this 14-month study, the eyeball length in 45 younger (6-10 years old) and 45 older (11-15 years old) myopic children before and after ortho-k will be evaluated. Eyeball elongation will be determined for the first 7 months when single-vision glasses will be prescribed (Phase I) and the next 7 months when ortho-k will be prescribed (Phase I). Rate of myopic progression will be determined and compared between the two groups of children in the two phases.
This study aims at investigating the efficacy of myopic control using ortho-k in younger and older children.