Association between axial elongation and corneal topography in children undergoing orthokeratology with different back optic zone diameters

Purpose: To explore the associations between myopia defocus dosage (MDD), aberration coefficients (primary spherical aberration and coma), and axial elongation in children undergoing orthokeratology (ortho-k) with back optic zone diameters (BOZD) of 5 mm and 6 mm over 2 years.

Methods: Data from 80 participants from two ortho-k studies were analyzed: 22 and 58 children wore lenses with 5-mm and 6-mm BOZD, respectively. Four MDD metrics were calculated from corneal topography data over a 5-mm pupil for the 1-month and 24-month visits: the circumferential, flat, steep, and volumetric MDD. Corneal primary spherical aberration and comatic aberrations were also extracted from topography data over a 5-mm pupil. Linear mixed modelling was performed to explore the associations between the MDD, corneal aberrations, and axial elongation over 2 years, while controlling for confounding factors (e.g., baseline age and sex).

Results: Participants in the 5-mm BOZD group displayed less axial elongation than the 6-mm BOZD group over 2 years (0.15 ± 0.21 mm vs. 0.35 ± 0.21 mm, P < 0.001). A greater volumetric MDD was observed in the 5-mm BOZD group compared with the 6-mm BOZD group at the 1- and 24-month visits (both P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups for the other MDD metrics or corneal aberration coefficients (all P > 0.05). Less axial elongation was associated with a greater volumetric MDD at the 1- and 24-month visits (both β = -0.01, P < 0.001 and P = 0.001), but not with any other MDD metrics or corneal aberrations (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions: The volumetric MDD over a 5-mm pupil after 1 month of ortho-k lens wear was associated with axial elongation after 24 months, and may be a useful predictor of future axial elongation in children undergoing ortho-k.