Objective:

The article discusses factors that can make orthokeratology (ortho-k) unsuitable over time and describes soft contact lenses as an option alongside or instead of ortho-k.

Approach:

• Factors affecting ortho-k success: Hygiene, responsible lens care, frequent lens loss or breakage, nightly compliance, difficult anatomy, lens awareness, and treatment results that do not satisfy the patient can affect ortho-k success.
• Changing circumstances: Illness, college, travel, sleepovers, irregular work schedules, and shared custody between households may disrupt ortho-k wear.
• Soft-lens options: A small supply of daily disposable lenses may provide a temporary option after a missed night. Soft lenses, including lenses designed for myopia management, may also be used during longer interruptions such as summer camp, extended illness, waiting for replacement ortho-k lenses, or managing residual refractive error during washout.

Key Findings:

• Some patients who have worn ortho-k successfully for years may later find it unsuitable.
• The author notes that soft lenses can be used alongside ortho-k or as an alternative when circumstances interfere with ortho-k wear.

Interpretation:

The author argues that successful myopia management is not defined by keeping a patient in ortho-k, but by continuing myopia management through the different stages of the patient’s journey.

Limitations:

• The article is a practitioner perspective and does not report study methods or comparative outcome data.

Conclusion:

The author recommends remaining open to soft-lens options when patient circumstances or ortho-k difficulties make continued wear unsuitable.

Sources:

• Article context provided by the user