Study Also Shows Predisposition for Contact Lens Use Among Parents
SAN RAMON, Calif., January 4, 2023—A new paper in press at Contact Lens & Anterior Eye indicates that orthokeratology (ortho-k) is the preferred method of myopia management in physically active children and adults. Patient and Parent Perceptions of Myopia Modalities (Lattery LJ, Chao C, Walline, JJ, et. al) is available for subscriber download here.
The research sought to compare the quality of life (QoL) among 49 children (aged 9-17 years) and 48 adults (aged 18-26 years) who currently use ortho-k, soft contact lenses, or spectacles for myopia. Participants scored across several categories including symptoms, vision, activities, appearance, peer perception, handling, and overall satisfaction. Results indicate that across the board, both children and adults agreed that there are perceived significant benefits to using ortho-k lenses during physical activity.
“The QoL study supports that ortho-k contact lenses offer appealing advantages for those who lead more active lifestyles,” said Leah Johnson, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Director of Professional Affairs, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. “The results of this work reinforce the opportunity for eye care practitioners to take a more proactive approach in discussing ortho-k benefits with patients who are active in sports or other physical activities.”
The study also evaluated parents’ perceptions on how they believed their children would respond—a first-of-its-kind proxy assessment. The results suggest while activity-driven children did perceive the benefits of orthokeratology, parents have an even greater affinity for contact lens use in active lifestyle situations, for easy handling, and for appearance when compared to spectacles. This insight should help eye care professionals feel more confident when discussing, fitting, and prescribing soft contact lenses or ortho-k for myopia management in pediatric patients.
This study was supported by NIH-NEI T35 and P30 (EY007099, EY007551, PI Laura Frishman). CooperVision Specialty EyeCare provided unrestricted grant support for subject reimbursement.
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About CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (NYSE: COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week, and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advance materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric, and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace by creating real advantages for both customers and wearers. For more information, please visit www.coopervision.com.
About CooperCompanies
CooperCompanies (“Cooper”) is a global medical device company publicly trades on the NYSE (NYSE: COO). Cooper operates through to business units; CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care, with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of women, babies, and families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on medical devices and fertility & genomics. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., Cooper has a workforce of roughly 14,000 with products sold in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
Media Contact
Maggie O’Donoghue, Counselor, McDougall Communications for CooperVision
maggie@mcdougallpr.com or +1 (585) 434-2149