Overnight lenses that reshape cornea could slow down myopia progression
Chennai: A new type of contact lens that can be worn overnight to help reshape the cornea and slow the eye's elongation, allowing people with myopia, or near-sightedness, to see without glasses or lenses during the day, will be tested in 200 children at city-based Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital for at least one and a half years, along with scientists from Japan.
Myopia is a growing epidemic, afflicting the eyes of children, said the hospital's Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Ashvin Agarwal. People with myopia can see close-up objects clearly, but to read blackboards, engage in cycling, driving, or recognising the faces of people down the road, they may need glasses. "From a prevalence of 4% in 1999 to 21% in 2019, myopia is expected to affect 40% of India's population by 2040 and touch close to 50% by 2050.
We are trying to slow down the progression," he said. Similarly, digital eye strain now affects 50%-60% of children in India, driven by increased screen time.
Orthokeratology lenses are gas-permeable, rigid contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea of your eye. "People wear these lenses while they are sleeping. When they wake up and remove these lenses, their cornea holds its new shape, allowing them to see clearly without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses," he said.
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In refractive errors, the cornea's shape is irregular, causing blurry vision. These lenses exert gentle hydraulic pressure on the tear film beneath the lens, which in turn reshapes the corneal cells, say experts.
This temporary change in corneal curvature allows light to focus properly on the retina. Experts say they work like dental retainers that maintain the shape of teeth. "It must be worn every night. Our test will show who is benefiting from these glasses," he said.
For the study, launched in Feb, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital has collaborated with Japan's Menicon Co Ltd for joint research on these lenses. This study will check the efficacy and safety of the orthokeratology lens for Indian children. "We aim to develop solutions and raise awareness about the treatment," said Menicon Co Ltd regional director (China and Asia-Oceania) Shunsuke Yamagishi.
These lenses won't be available for sale until doctors evaluate the benefits and side effects. "If this is successful, it will offer freedom from glasses and eventually show us the path towards a cure for myopia," Dr Agarwal said.
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