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Review Paper | Paramedical Science | Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026 | Pages: 155 - 159 | India
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses: Mechanisms, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety
Abstract: Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is an increasingly adopted non-surgical intervention for correcting myopia (near-sightedness) and controlling its progression. It is particularly popular among children and adolescents. The technique involves overnight wear of specially designed rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, which are firm lenses that allow oxygen to reach the eye. These lenses temporarily reshape the corneal surface, the clear front part of the eye, enabling unaided, clear daytime vision. Beyond refractive correction (adjustment of the eye's ability to focus light), Ortho-K has gained clinical importance due to its potential to slow axial elongation, or the lengthening of the eyeball, a key factor in myopia progression. The primary mechanisms underlying its effectiveness include central corneal flattening, redistribution of epithelial cells (cells on the eye's surface), and the induction of myopic peripheral defocus, a phenomenon in which light focuses in front of the retina at the edges of vision, a phenomenon believed to regulate ocular growth. Clinical evidence demonstrates that Ortho-K is effective in correcting low-to-moderate myopia and significantly reduces myopia progression in paediatric populations compared with conventional spectacle correction. Visual outcomes are generally stable, with most patients achieving satisfactory uncorrected visual acuity throughout the day. While the procedure is considered safe, it is not without risks; common side effects include corneal staining and visual disturbances, and rare but serious complications, such as microbial keratitis, may occur, particularly with poor hygiene or non-compliance. Overall, orthokeratology is a valuable, reversible approach to both vision correction and myopia management. Its success, however, depends on appropriate patient selection, strict adherence to lens care protocols, and regular clinical monitoring.
Keywords: orthokeratology, myopia control, corneal reshaping lenses, axial elongation, paediatric vision care
How to Cite?: Priyanka Chaudhary, Dr. Himadri S. Dey, Dr Sachin Datt, "Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses: Mechanisms, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety", Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 155-159, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=MR26503115054, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/MR26503115054