Purpose: To conduct a meta-analysis on the effects of orthokeratology in slowing myopia progression.
Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Methodological quality of the literature was evaluated according to the Jadad score. The statistical analysis was carried out using RevMan 5.2.6 software.
Results: The present meta-analysis included seven studies (two randomized controlled trials and five nonrandomized controlled trials) with 435 subjects (orthokeratology group, 218; control group, 217) aged 6 to 16 years. The follow-up time was 2 years for the seven studies. The weighted mean difference was -0.26 mm (95% confidence interval, -0.31 to -0.21; p < 0.001) for axial length elongation based on data from seven studies and -0.18 mm (95% confidence interval, -0.33 to -0.03; p = 0.02) for vitreous chamber depth elongation based on data from two studies.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that orthokeratology may slow myopia progression in children. Further large-scale studies are needed to substantiate the current result and to investigate the long-term effects of orthokeratology in myopia control.