Redistribution of Epithelium and Stroma and Their Relationship With Corneal Curvature After 1-Month Cessation of Overnight Orthokeratology

Ying Yang; Can Chen; Zhi Chen; Li Zeng; Feng Xue; Jiaqi Zhou

doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000001085

Redistribution of Epithelium and Stroma and Their Relationship With Corneal Curvature After 1-Month Cessation of Overnight Orthokeratology

Eye Contact Lens. 2024 Apr 30. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000001085. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ying Yang¹, Can Chen, Zhi Chen, Li Zeng, Feng Xue, Jiaqi Zhou

Affiliation

¹ Department of Ophthalmology (Y.Y.), Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China; and Department of Ophthalmology (C.C., Z.C., L.Z., F.X., J.Z.), Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Research Centre of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

PMID: 38687606
DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000001085

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the changes in the thickness of epithelium and stroma and their relationship with corneal curvature following the cessation of overnight orthokeratology for a period of 1 month.

Methods: This prospective study consecutively included 20 juveniles (20 right eyes) who had undergone overnight orthokeratology for a minimum of one year and were willing to discontinue the treatment. The study measured and compared epithelial and corneal curvature using optical coherence tomography and Medmont topographer at the first day of cessation and 1 month after cessation. In addition, changes in uncorrected visual acuity and refractive error before and after the cessation of the treatment were analyzed.

Results: The study found a significant increase in the thickness of the epithelium in the central 2-mm area after the cessation of the treatment (t = -4.807, P<0.001). Moreover, the stroma in the paracentral area (2-5 mm) and peripheral area (5-6 mm) showed a general thinning trend (P=0.016, P=0.016). Regarding the correlation analysis, the change in central epithelial thickness (ΔCET) was significantly correlated with the change in paracentral corneal curvature (ΔPCCC) (r=0.610, P=0.007) and the change in peripheral corneal curvature (ΔPCC) (r=0.597, P=0.009). Similarly, the change in central stromal thickness (ΔCST) was significantly correlated with the change in central corneal curvature (ΔCCC) (r=0.500, P=0.035), ΔPCCC (r=0.700, P=0.001), and ΔPCC (r=0.635, P=0.005).

Conclusions: The study found that the corneal remodeling induced by orthokeratology was reversible after the cessation of the treatment. Specifically, changes in the epithelium were found to be more prominent in the central area, while changes in the stroma were more pronounced in the paracentral and peripheral areas. In addition, the study established a significant correlation between central corneal remodeling and changes in curvature.