Scientific Journal of Pediatrics
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Scientific Journal of Pediatrics

Linking Corneal Remodelling to Axial Growth: Induced Peripheral Myopic Defocus and Slow Axial Elongation During 23 Months of Orthokeratology in a 10-Year-Old Girl

Aprilia Elisabet (Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Indonesia)
Ariesanti Tri Handayani (Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Indonesia)
I Gusti Ayu Made Juliari (Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Indonesia)
Surya Ari Wahyudi (Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
14 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Childhood myopia is the commonest chronic eye disorder of school age, and its harm is carried by axial elongation rather than by blur. Orthokeratology reshapes the cornea overnight into an oblate profile that corrects central vision while imposing myopic defocus on the peripheral retina, but the mechanism is rarely measured in the same child in whom the outcome is measured. Objective: To describe the optical mechanism, corneal remodelling, safety, and axial elongation during 23 months of overnight orthokeratology in a 10-year-old girl with progressive myopia. Case presentation: A paediatric case was followed clinically for 23 months. Serial corneal topography, zonal refractometry, visual acuity, ocular examinations, and optical biometry were assessed. Reshaping was complete by day 26: central axial power fell from 45.60 D to 43.24 D in the right eye and from 45.67 D to 42.78 D in the left, and corneal asphericity reversed from prolate (Q −0.10 and −0.22) to markedly oblate (Q +0.94 and +0.93). Relative peripheral refraction at the 5 mm chord shifted from −0.62 D to −2.12 D in the right eye and from −0.63 D to −2.13 D in the left, corresponding to induced relative peripheral myopic defocus of −1.50 D per eye. Axial length rose by 0.10 mm and 0.11 mm between months 16 and 23, approximately 0.17 and 0.18 mm per year. A transient punctate epitheliopathy at month 11 resolved without interrupting treatment. Conclusion: Overnight orthokeratology produced durable corneal remodelling and peripheral myopic defocus, with slow axial elongation and a reversible minor epithelial event in this child. Baseline axial-length measurement remains essential for treatment monitoring.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

sjped

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology Nursing Public Health

Description

Focus Scientific Journal of Pediatrics (SJPed) focused on the development of medical sciences especially pediatrics and child health for human well-being. Scope Scientific Journal of Pediatrics (SJPed) publishes articles which encompass all aspects of basic research/clinical studies related to the ...