Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Mar 3, 2026
Date Accepted: Jul 29, 2026
Optical quality of the cornea in orthokeratology: influence of total corneal refractive power, corneal asphericity, and epithelial thickness. Study protocol.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is a non-surgical corneal reshaping technique used for the temporary correction of myopia and myopia control. Nighttime use induces central epithelial thinning and mid-peripheral thickening, altering corneal asphericity and higher-order aberrations
Objective:
Primary
Objective:
To determine the change in anterior corneal spherical aberration after 1 month. Secondary
Objective:
To evaluate changes in total corneal refractive power, Q value, epithelial thickness, and correlations with cycloplegic refraction and diurnal variation.
Methods:
Methods Design: Prospective quasi-experimental pre-post study. Location: Ophthalmology clinic. Participants with a diagnosis of myopia from −1.00 to −5.00 D. Intervention: Nighttime orthokeratology for 1 month. Measurements: Pentacam tomography, anterior segment OCT, Zernike analysis, cycloplegic refraction. At least 23 participants are required to detect a change ≥0.14 in spherical aberration (α=0.05, β=0.05, SD=0.166, including a 20% dropout rate). Statistical analysis: Tests of normality, paired comparisons, correlation analysis, and multivariate regression. Significance level p < 0.05.
Results:
It is expected to be able to determine positive changes in the anterior corneal spherical aberration after 1 month of treatment. Subsequently, to evaluate changes in total corneal refractive power, Q value, epithelial thickness, and correlations with cycloplegic refraction and diurnal variation, as well as other characteristics that may be of interest.
Conclusions:
The optical quality may be modified after one month of using Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses and propose alternative treatments to the usual practice. Clinical Trial: NCT06775509
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