Choroidal Thickness Changes after Orthokeratology Lens Wearing in Young Adults with Myopia

Recently in South Korea, there are increasing number of young adults undergoing orthokeratology treatment for myopia control. They prefer orthokeratology treatment more than wearing spectacles or having a refractive surgery for several reasons. However, there is little research on the effect of orthokeratology treatment on choroids.

The aim of this study was to analyze the change in choroidal thickness (CT) in the horizontal axis in young myopic adults after orthokeratology treatment.

This was a retrospective research among young myopic patients (-1.0 to -5.0 diopters) aged 19-29 years (n = 36; 23.6 ± 2.5 years). We selected patients who were treated with orthokeratology for 12 months. CT values of the horizontal axis near the fovea before and after orthokeratology treatment were analyzed using optical coherence tomography. The value was measured at the beginning of treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months after orthokeratology treatment. Three regional areas of choroid on the horizontal plane including fovea were analyzed.

In the beginning of orthokeratology treatment, CT of the horizontal axis was 248.9 ± 45.7 μm in the temporal region, 259.9 ± 55.3 μm in the macular region, and 219.2 ± 46.4 μm in the nasal region. Three months after orthokeratology treatment, thickness values of choroids in the 3 divided areas increased significantly (p < 0.05). Mean CT at 6 or 12 months after orthokeratology treatment was greater than before ortho--keratology treatment. CT increased after 3 months of orthokeratology treatment in each regional area. In young myopic adults, CT in nasal area was thinner than that in foveal or temporal area before treatment. CT recovered to near baseline when it was observed for more than 6 months after orthokeratology treatment.