AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of orthokeratology for 400 juvenile with myopia astigmatism and its effects on corneal endothelial cells.

METHODS: Four hundred patients(800 eyes), of whom the average age was 11.5±2.3 years old, 239 male, 161 female, were divided into two groups: orthokeratology group and spectacles group. Parameters including efficacy data(uncorrected visual acuity, corneal curvature, axial length and diopter)and corneal endothelial cell data(count of endothelial cell, endothelial cell density, fluorescein staining and central corneal thickness)were observed at 1d, 1, 6, 12 and 24mo after wearing.

RESULTS: The visual acuity of spectacles group recovered to normal after wearing, that of orthokeratology group recovered to normal at 1mo after wearing. At 2a after wearing, the corneal curvature, diopter of orthokeratology group decreased significantly(40.09±0.31D, 0.23±0.06D respectively); while those of spectacles group increased, the differences between the two groups were significant(P<0.05). The axial length of the two groups increased slightly at 1mo after wearing(P>0.05)compared to those before wearing. At 2a after wearing, the axial length of the two groups were 23.96±0.38mm, 26.49±0.88mm respectively(P<0.05). At 2a after wearing, central corneal thickness was 527.33±27.69mm, 526.98±26.89μm(P>0.05). The count of endothelial cell and endothelial cell density both decreased after wearing without significant differences(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Orthokeratology has less effect on the corneal endothelial cells, no obvious adverse reactions and can control the prognosis of myopia.