ESA Global: orthokeratology for fitters and manufacturers

Myopia has become a pandemic in recent decades, and the trend continues

Holden BA et al. Ophthalmology 2016;123(5):1036-42

Number of people (in millions) per year

Out-of-Focus Painting by Philip Barlow

Complications of myopia

Myopia by itself reduces the quality of life but the main problem is the resulting complications, leading to blindness and low vision (retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy).

Retinal detachment

Myopic maculopathy

Leading cause of visual impairment

This is why myopia has now become one of the leading causes of visual impairment in developed countries. For example, among patients assigned to the Spanish Society of the Blind, of which there are more than 70,000, high myopia is in first place. It has been the most frequent pathology for many years now.

Critical years for myopia progression

Such a massive spread of myopia must be accompanied by an equally massive number of ways to manage it, as these methods do indeed exist. Myopia mainly progresses between the ages of 10 and 17 and it is important to intervene during this period and slow down this progression.

Cochrane systematic review on methods
of myopia management

In 2025, a Cochrane systematic review on methods of myopia management was published. Orthokeratology is the most effective method, according to network meta-analyses for all treatments versus control.

Lawrenson JG et al. Interventions for myopia control in children: a living systematic review and network meta-analysis (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2025) Issue 2. Art. No.: CD014758. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014758.pub3

Change in axial length at 2 years

For the measurement of changes in axial length, negative MDs for changes in axial length represent faster axial elongation in the control group compared to the intervention group

CI: confidence interval; MA: meta-analysis; MD: mean difference; NMA: network meta-analysis

^aDowngraded one level for risk of bias
^bDowngraded one level each for risk of bias and imprecision
^cDowngraded one level each for risk of bias, imprecision and inconsistency

Lawrenson JG et al. Interventions for myopia control in children: a living
systematic review and network meta-analysis (Review).
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2025) Issue 2. Art. No.:
CD014758. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014758.pub3

Orthokeratology provides its patients with a unique combination of benefits

Ortho-K can be combined with atropine

In addition, Ortho-K can be combined with any other methods of myopia management apart from daytime contact lenses. There are a number of scientific studies demonstrating that the combination of ortho-K and low-dose atropine is more effective than each alone.

Image: https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/news/article/three-atropine-formulations-now-available

Ning Yang, Junxing Bai and Li Liu. Eur J Ophthalmol (2022);32:221-228.

Ortho-K in adults

In addition to myopia management, Ortho-K is an effective method of vision correction in adults, which provides the patient with good vision and independence from any vision correction aids throughout the day. This is very convenient for those with an active lifestyle (sports, water activities) and for those occupations where the use of glasses or conventional contact lenses is impossible or difficult (pilots, firefighters, etc.).