Application of orthokeratology on myopia control and its effect on ocular surface and meibomian gland function in Chinese myopic adolescents

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the influence of orthokeratology (OK) on myopia control and ocular surface and meibomian gland function in myopic adolescents. Methods A prospective study was conducted over a 12-month period. The subjects were classified into two groups, namely, the OK lens group and the frame glasses control group. Axial length, corneal curvature, ocular surface, and meibomian gland parameters were measured at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after wearing OK lenses. Results The axial length growth rate in the OK group was significantly slower than in the control group ( P < 0.01). The naked eye vision and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores recorded 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after wearing OK lenses were significantly higher than the scores recorded before wearing OK lenses. There was no significant difference in other ocular parameters at each follow-up time point compared with pre-wearing ( P > 0.05). After using the OK lens for 6 months, the OSDI score and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score increased significantly ( P < 0.001), but there were no significant differences in other parameters among the groups. No infectious keratitis occurred during the study. Conclusion These results provide evidence that the use of OK lenses can control the axial growth and progress rate of myopia compared with frame glasses. During the 12-month follow-up, although wearing OK lenses may have aggravated dry eye symptoms, each patient’s ocular surface and meibomian gland function did not change significantly, indicating that the use of OK lenses is a relatively safe modality for the control of myopia in adolescents.