AOP advises on Ortho-k lenses for myopia control

New guidance to its members has been issued by the Association of Optometrists stating that ‘fitting Ortho-k lenses can slow the progression of myopia in school age children’.

The Association for Independent Optometrists (AIO) said this was particularly significant, as myopia in UK children has doubled in the past 50 years.

The AOP guidance to its paying members, which includes around 90% of qualified UK optometrists, was expected to encourage practitioners around the country to increase CL fittings for myopia.

‘Ortho-k is a known to be a successful, and non-invasive, treatment for myopia control, practised by many of the UK’s independent opticians. Now that the AOP has recognised the procedure can be beneficial on myopia control we are expecting to see an increase in demand from people of all ages,’ said the AIO.