ortho k

[RICK2014]

Hi , 10 yr old son has high myopia . I recently found about ortho k lenses even few doctor here suggested that but due to his high prescriptions I was told he is not a candidate. Recently I found one reputed optometrist showed my ray of hope saying we can do partial reduction that can help stabilize his prescription if everything goes well until his eyes done growing . Any suggestion from expert here or anyone with experience please reply.
Thanks

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

atropine would only cause glaucoma problem in person with very narrow anterior chamber. Myopes do not have eye like that so atropine and glaucoma not a consideration. This is an article on atropine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0062788/

jch md

[RICK2014]

Thanks so much Dr.Hagan for your quick and honest response.
As you mentioned that atropine has much higher possibility to slow progression with low concentrattion and even studies prove that . Are there long term or short term side effect we should be concern about before starting that, I would like your opinion on that as not many opthomologist recommended atropine as just told me to let him be kid? as it will change his life style. I don't know beside using reading glasses for reading or near work and watching for bright light what other changes I would be concerned about. Only thing I would like to mentioned here is that I was told his optic nerve cupping is large which is more like mine and mostly just appearacne ( glucoma was also ruled out by glucoma specialist which i insisted to see over optic nerve concern, and due to over concern mom :)). Will atropine drops have any effect on glucoma ( wide or narrow) I think in my sons case in future I be watchful for wide angle. I am not expert but trying to get your opinion on my son's conditon according to my understanding and what information i gathered from specialist.
Again thanks so much Dr.Hagan for what you are doing. It is so nice to know that there is someone out there providing honest and expert opinion which lot people have to wait and spend hundreds of dollars. I would have definately come to see you if you were in chicago.
Thanks again.
Rick

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I have no personal experience with Ortho-K   Over the years there are some papers that appear in the medical literature which say it helps, then others that say it doesn't.  Sorry I cannot be more helpful.

Atropine has been shown to be helpful, I don't think any studies have shown it doesn't help.

You live in Chicago you might try and see a pediatric ophthalmologist at one of the fine medical schools in that city (I went to Loyola Stritch Medical School)

JCH MD

[RICK2014]

Thanks Dr.Hagan for your reply, So in your opinion is it worth trying to do ortho k and see if my son adjusted to it because I am not even how he will take it. If that wont work then i will have only atropine drops option to try that might help slow the progression. In your opinion which could be out of these two are is bes option to try on his high myopia.
Please reply.
Thanks.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Even after many decades of study there is no agreement on whether it helps slow the progression of myopia and if it does how much it helps and what techniques are the best practices.

JCH MD