Child wears ortho-k- has mild eye infection:(

[2sweetkids]

I was on this forum before. My almost ten year old wears ortho- k lenses since 2 1/2 years ago, since then no progression, stay around -3.5 both eyes. Few days ago, she felt a little pain on right eye, the next day, her upper eyelid on right eye little swollen look like a thicker eyelid. I brought her to an experienced opthamogist, he said her right eye - white area has some irritation, the beginning of infection and prescribe eye drop. Still cornea is clear which is good. She is not really suffering anything, now using eye drop for 4 days without lenses. I plan to skip her lenses for another 6 days after 4 day eyedrop! I as the mother really get frustrated and worried! We washed hands, use clear care daily and she doesn't rub eyes! All we did was we went to the park and was windy the day before her right eye started!!  She had a similar minor infection 1 1/2 years ago on another eyelid, cornea clear, few days of eye drop, skipped another few days of lenses was fine! I don't know it is the sugar from candy or windy day at park or stress or puberty .. I just want to stop any irritation from happening.  She had a couple of minor blog pores in eyelid before! Can daily warm compress on both eyes help to prevent ? Dr please advise!

[JohnHaganMD]

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[2sweetkids]

Thank you Dr.

[JohnHaganMD]

The genetics of myopia is so confusing its not possible to predict and difficult to generalize. For instance no one in my family is myopic but me and I didn't need glasses till about age 24.  Daily wear CTL not worse to sleep (extended wear) have the lowest risk but highest cost. Overall the risk of LASIK when the RX stabilizes is lower than a lifetime of contact lens.

JCHMD

[JohnHaganMD]

No compresses will not help. One of the reasons ortho-K remains controversial is because infections, sometimes very serious if on the cornea, occur due to the contact lens itself. After all its a foreign body and its fitted to push in on the cornea. So its not the wind, not sugar.  You sound like you are very meticulous with care and cleaning. This article talks about infection risks:  http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/05/21/406502395/overnight-contacts-can-help-kids-sight-during-day-but-also-carry-risks   Please note the studies that show increased time outdoors daily slows or prevents myopia progression. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE DAILY for play and recreation.

[2sweetkids]

JohnHaganMD, thank you so much. I need to be extra vigilant in her hygiene.I had to admit I was a bit loose for a while. I found few things I can improve at her lens care such as sterilizing faucet and bathroom more often, cutting her nails often, change cases more often and watch her putting on and taking off at all times!!! Both infection were really mild, just swollen eye lid and blink with little pain, thank God. I read that article u sent me. I am hoping to hang in with ortho-k till she turns 13 as her puberty will finish by then... She will have another checkup in May. She has rapid progression -1.25 per year before ortho-k. We tried letting her get sunshine at park every day at age 6-7, still progressing a lot:(  Dr, should myopia be slowed down after puberty? Mine stopped progressing after 3-4 years but I only got myopic at age 8 not age 5!
Just curious, is wearing daily wear contact lenses has lowest risk? The kind that is probably most expensive but she can throw away every day?