Efficacy and Safety of Orthokeratology Lenses for the Management of Adolescent Myopia: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND

The global prevalence of myopia is increasing, with a significant proportion of affected young individuals, particularly in countries and cities with relatively developed education in the Asia-Pacific region. This trend highlights the need for effective interventions to address the rising prevalence of myopia in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of orthokeratology lenses in the management of adolescent myopia through a comprehensive meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in four databases to identify relevant clinical controlled trials. The analysis focused on studies with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for either relative risk or mean difference. The heterogeneity of the research results was assessed using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

A total of eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. The findings indicated that the use of orthokeratology lenses (OKL) in adolescents with myopia was associated with significant reductions in axial length (SMD: -0.25; 95% CI: -0.31, -0.19; I2 = 18.7%, P < .01), refractive errors (SMD: 3.22; 95% CI: 2.84, 3.61; I2 = 0.0%, P < .01), and adverse reactions (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 0.71, 2.65; I2 = 5.8%, P > .05) compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that orthokeratology lenses (OKL) may be effective in managing myopia in adolescents, as evidenced by reductions in axial length, refractive errors, and adverse reactions. However, future research should include large sample sizes, multicenter studies with low risk of bias, and exploring the underlying mechanisms through basic medical research.