Corneal thickness changes after long-term ortho-k lens wear in astigmatic children

Purpose: To investigate central corneal thickness (CCT) changes after long-term ortho-k lens wear in astigmatic children. Methods: Thirty-five subjects were enrolled in a myopic control study. Refractive error, corneal curvature, and corneal thickness measurements were collected at baseline and after one night, one week, one month, six months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months of lens wear and compared. Results: Mean ± SD myopia was -2.53 ± 1.31 D at baseline. Myopia was significantly reduced to -1.33 ± 0.80 D (42% reduction) at the first overnight visit and to -0.41 ± 0.43 D (81% reduction) at the one-month visit. The mean ± SD refractive (with-the-rule) astigmatism was reduced from -1.86 ± 0.64 D at baseline to -0.88 ± 0.59 D (54% reduction) and -0.40 ± 0.39 D (79% reduction) at the first overnight and one-month visits, respectively. Significant corneal thinning of 7 ± 9 μm was observed at the one-month visit (p = 0.004). No significant differences in CCT were observed during subsequent visits. Conclusion: Toric ortho-k lenses are effective for myopic and astigmatic reductions.