The current practice and researches of orthokeratology in China

Purpose Orthokeratology is account for 200,000 wearers in current China. In past ten years, orthorkeratology experienced “up-down-up” fortune. This article presents the evidence about what leads to the twists and turns of orthokeratology in China. And it sketches the update researches of orthokeratology in clinical safety and its on myopia retardation. Methods Based on survey of twelve orthokeratology clinics and consulting work for government, it illustrated both the healthy part and illness part of fitting, wearing and related vision care service administration in the past tens years. Through summary of the research work, the clinical safety of orthokeratology and its on myopia retardation research both laboratories based or clinic based were presented. Results Orthokeratology was first released in China in late 1990s. It quickly spread over China. But very soon, reports of high rate of complications began appeared, and the safety of Orthokeratology was questioned by both ophthalmologists and the public, and dropped to dead margin. After ten years researches and cautious monitoring from safety administration, the ortho-K practice is backing up. The data from ten ortho-K clinics proved its safety and efficacy. The author showed their clinical and laboratories study around corneal contour and relative peripheral refractive status in myopia retardation. Conclusion The Orthokeratology not only brings backs to life but in very fast growing trend in current China. The key for its success in clinical safety and efficacy comes from the qualified fitters and scientific monitoring. Although evidence showed myopia retardation with ortho-k among young myopes, whether its mechanism comes from relative peripheral refractive hyperopic changes is still under debate.