Effectiveness of orthokeratology plus vision therapy for controlling myopia progression in children.

OBJECTIVE: Addressing myopia in children, this study analyzed the effectiveness of orthokeratology (Ortho-K) plus vision therapy (VT) for controlling myopia progression. METHODS: The study population was composed of 155 myopia-affected children (August 2022-August 2025), who were assigned to the ortho-K group (n=75) wearing Ortho-K lenses and the Ortho-K+VT group (n=80) that was additionally given VT intervention. Inter-group comparative assessments were then conducted from the perspectives of clinical effectiveness, visual acuity (VA) measures (best-corrected VA, uncorrected VA), refractive structural parameters (axial length, spherical equivalent), corneal parameters (central corneal thickness, mean keratometry), accommodation parameters (accommodation amplitude, accommodative facility, accommodative response), accommodation-convergence synergy parameters (positive/negative relative accommodation, accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio), complications (corneal epithelial punctate staining, conjunctival congestion, dry eye symptoms, papillary conjunctivitis), and vision-related quality of life (25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire). RESULTS: The total effective rate was significantly higher in the Ortho-K+VT group than in the Ortho-K group. After the intervention, all VA measures, refractive structure parameters, corneal parameters, accommodation parameters, accommodation-convergence synergy parameters, and vision-related quality of life were significantly better in patients receiving Ortho-K+VT. The total complication rate was significantly lower in the Ortho-K+VT group than in the Ortho-K group. CONCLUSION: Ortho-K combined with VT was effective in controlling myopia progression in children.