Orthokeratology flattened cornea without direct pressure on central cornea

ROME — Overnight orthokeratology treatment can change the shape of the cornea to improve refractive errors without applying pressure directly on the central cornea, according to one surgeon speaking here.

At the winter meeting of the European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Antonio Calossi, MD, reported on a 6-month study of ortho-K in 50 eyes of 25 patients with myopia. All patients were treated with a customized hexa-curve reverse geometry lens made of a hyper-DK gas-permeable material for which Dr. Calossi holds the patent. Patients were between 11 and 44 years old, and baseline refractive error prior to treatment was between –1 D and –6 D, he said.

Patients were tested immediately following overnight wear the first night, then at 12 hours following removal of the lens after overnight wear at 1 night, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1, 3 and 6 months, according to Dr. Calossi. Tests performed included uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, ultrasound pachymetry, corneal topography and wavefront analysis.

Dr. Calossi said the corneal shape changed from oblate to prolate following 1 night of wear with the lens. Dr. Calossi found that corneal and visual changes leveled off after 1 week, and the changes were sustained at following visits.

“The preliminary results suggest the corneal epithelium can be molded very rapidly,” Dr. Calossi said.