• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.7-15
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• 2009

Purpose: To investigate the corneal recovery after discontinuing orthokeratology (OK) lenses wear in children for long-term period. Methods: Among the OK lens wearers who wear over 8 months and showed successful refractive correction, 25 subjects were selected who want to discontinue the OK lenses. Uncorrected visual acuity, refractive correction, corneal curvature (Sim K), central corneal thickness and corneal eccentricity were measured during the OK lens wearing period and after discontinuation for 1 month. Results: Uncorrected visual acuity and corneal shape had remodeled significantly during the OK lens wear and recovered significantly during the first week of discontinuation. Uncorrected visual acuity and refractive correction had achieved full recovery 2 weeks after discontinuation of lens wear and were highly correlated with the changes in corneal thickness. But corneal shape recovered slowly, eccentricity had recovered fully after 1 month and corneal curvature and central thickness had not been achieved full recovery until 1 month after discontinuation. Conclusions: Recovery of after longterm use of OK lens is rapid for refractive change, but slow for corneal curvature and central thickness that to refit the contact lenses, practitioners need patience.