This research is aimed at elucidation of the current state and prospects of orthokeratology (OK-therapy, Ortho-K) development with the aid of scientometric analysis of publications from 1968 to 2018 inclusive. Two periods were characterized: “old orthokeratology” period from 1968 to 1993 and the period of “new orthokeratology” from 1994 to 2018. The first period is characterized by the absence of a clear trend in the dynamics of publications containing “orthokeratology” term. However, publications growth during the second period is well approximated with exponential function. It points to the relevance and good prospects for the orthokeratology scientific area and the development of this method. Noteworthy, the growth in the number of publications containing the terms “orthokeratology” and “myopia” is 1.5 times higher than the one of publications, when searched only for the “orthokeratology” term. It indicates the elevated interest of researchers and clinicians in myopia and opportunities for myopia control with Ortho-K. The latter is confirmed by clinical trials and meta-analysis results, which demonstrate significant retardation of the eye’s axial length growth due to the use of Ortho-K lenses as well as safety of this method. The need to combine the scientometric approach with meticulous semantic analy-sis of the individual publications is highlighted. Clinical study designs, opportunities to increase the efficacy of Ortho-K and place of orthokeratology among other me-thods of myopia control are briefly discussed. Considering the fact that orthokeratology not only controls myopia progression and is being a good option for combination with other methods of myopia treatment, but also ensures the required visual acuity and freedom of various outdoor activities, the choice of practitioners in favor of administering Ortho-K is factually justified.

Purpose: To estimate the stabilizing effect of orthokeratology lenses (ortho-K, OK-lenses) on myopia progression by evaluating axial eye growth dynamics and clinical refraction.

Material and methods. Ortho-K group consisted of 68 children (135 eyes) aged 7–17 years (average age 12.2) with progressive myopia (initially -0.75–6.75 D). Observation period varied from 7 to 30 months (on average 11.68±4.39). All patients used OK-lenses for overnight wear. The control group consisted of 90 patients (180 eyes) with myopia who were prescribed single vision spectacles for vision correction. Comparative analysis was performed for clinical refraction parameters as well as for axial length (AL). The data was obtained with the use of IOL-Master optical biometer (“Carl Zeiss”).

Results. The parameters were stable in patients of ortho-K group: axial length, subjective and objective clinical refraction, the required power of corrective len-ses. However, the parameters changed significantly in the control group during the observation period: uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) decreased, the required power of corrective lenses increased, the indices of objective clinical refraction strengthened, annual gradient of progression (AGP) amounted to 0.26±0.19 and 0.16±0,39 mm in patients with low and moderate myopia, respectively.

Conclusion. The use of OK-lenses ensures a significant deceleration of myopia progression in children. The results obtained suggest a wider use of ortho-K among pediatric ophthalmologists in their clinical practice as it is an effective preventive and therapeutic method for patients with progressive myopia.

Majority of reports regarding methods of myopia control are devoted to the use of orthokeratology lenses (OKL) or atropine. The purpose of the study was to estimate the efficacy and safety of using OKL in combination with instillation of 0.01% atropine drops for myopia control in children.

Material and methods. Prospective cohort study included 34 patients (68 eyes) aged 8 to 14 years old with acquired myopia. Groups with low (17 patients, 34 eyes), moderate (12 patients, 24 eyes) and high (5 patients, 10 eyes) myopia were identified and examined prior to and 6, 12 and 18 months after adding 0.01% atropine instillations to OKL wearing. To assess the degree of progression of myopia in dynamics the following parameters were evaluated: refraction (by Huvitz MRK 3100P, axial length (AL) by IOL-Master, “Carl Zeiss”, (Germany), amplitude of accommodation (AA) by Grand Seiko WRK-5100K, positive-relative accommodation (PRA), pseudoaccommodation (PA) and annual gradient of progression (AGP).

Results. The most noticeable effect was observed in patients with low myopia. In patients with low myopia, the rate of annual progression gradient decreased by 3.4 times by 18th month of atropine use; therefore a condition close to stabilization of myopia progression occurred. The data is statistically significant.

In patients with moderate myopia, despite the decrease of the AGP within 6-month period of atropine use by 3.7 times, the increase of APG was observed by 12th month of atropine use, which continued until 18th month of observation. In spite of this, in comparison with baseline indices, the decrease in the rate of myopia progression was obtained. The data is statistically significant.

In patients with high myopia, change in the AGP was not observed within the 6-month period of atropine use; afterwards, a gradual decrease in the rate of myopia progression was noted: AGP decreased by 1.2 times by 12th month. By 18th month of atropine use, AGP decreased by 1.5 times compared to its initial level. The data is statistically significant.

Evidently, the inhibitory effect of OKL, which is determined by optical factors such as peripheral myopic defocus, even in combination with atropine, is not sufficient to halt the progression of high myopia, because of structural and biomechanical changes of the sclera.

Conclusion. Based on the preliminary results obtained, 100% efficacy of a long-term instillation of low-concentration atropine cannot be claimed, how-ever, the positive effect does exist and therefore the study continues.

Purpose: To analyze changes of functional parameters and aberrations before fitting and after using rigid gas-permeable scleral lenses (RGPSCL) in patients with irregular cornea.

Material and methods. 21 patients (29 eyes) with irregular astigmatism of various etiology were enrolled in this study. The patients could not achieve good visual aсuity in glasses, standard soft or rigid corneal contact lenses. Complex ophthalmologic examination was performed: autorefractometry, visometry, biomicroscopy, computer corneal topography, aberrometry on “OPD-Scan II” (“Nidek”,Japan) before fitting scleral lenses and during the period of their wearing.

Results and discussion. The results demonstrated significant visual acuity improvement after RGPSCL fitting in all observed patients. UCVA amounted to 0.1±0.18, BCVA in glasses amounted to 0.4±0.26, BCVA in RGPSCL amounted to 0.7±0.1. An increase of best-corrected visual acuity in RGPSCL was statistically significant in patients after keratoplasty, after intra-stromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) implantation, after refractive laser surgery (RLS) and in cases of mixed astigmatism. We have found that the correction of ke-ratoconus with the use of RGPSCL resulted in a decrease of the root mean square value (RMS), measured in the3 mm and5 mm zones by 2.5 times and 4 times, respectively. In patients wearing RGPSCL after keratoplasty, statistically significant decrease in RMS was observed in the3 mm zone (by 3.85 times) and in the5 mm zone (by 2.99 times). In patients wearing RGPSCL after implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS), RMS in the3 mm zone decreased by 1.5 times. In patients wearing RGPSCL after refractive laser surgery (RLS) RMS was 2.5 times lower in the3 mm zone and 2.8 times lower in the5 mm zone. In case of mixed astigmatism correction with RGPSCL, RMS increased by 1.6 times in the3 mm zone and practically did not change in the5 mm zone.

This research is aimed at elucidation of the current state and prospects of orthokeratology (OK-therapy, Ortho-K) development with the aid of scientometric analysis of publications from 1968 to 2018 inclusive. Two periods were characterized: “old orthokeratology” period from 1968 to 1993 and the period of “new orthokeratology” from 1994 to 2018. The first period is characterized by the absence of a clear trend in the dynamics of publications containing “orthokeratology” term. However, publications growth during the second period is well approximated with exponential function. It points to the relevance and good prospects for the orthokeratology scientific area and the development of this method. Noteworthy, the growth in the number of publications containing the terms “orthokeratology” and “myopia” is 1.5 times higher than the one of publications, when searched only for the “orthokeratology” term. It indicates the elevated interest of researchers and clinicians in myopia and opportunities for myopia control with Ortho-K. The latter is confirmed by clinical trials and meta-analysis results, which demonstrate significant retardation of the eye’s axial length growth due to the use of Ortho-K lenses as well as safety of this method. The need to combine the scientometric approach with meticulous semantic analy-sis of the individual publications is highlighted. Clinical study designs, opportunities to increase the efficacy of Ortho-K and place of orthokeratology among other me-thods of myopia control are briefly discussed. Considering the fact that orthokeratology not only controls myopia progression and is being a good option for combination with other methods of myopia treatment, but also ensures the required visual acuity and freedom of various outdoor activities, the choice of practitioners in favor of administering Ortho-K is factually justified.

The issue of myopia prevention or myopia control is becoming more and more relevant every year. The approaches to myopia pathogenesis and myopia control have changed fundamentally, stereotypes have been dispelled, hypotheses and numerous studies are becoming the basis of new scientific developments. However, the reality dictates the necessity to integrate the updated evidence based medicine data regarding myopia control into the clinical ophthalmological practice.

The main reason that concerns the professional community is a growing prevalence of progressive myopia among children and adolescents around the world.

The incidence of myopia among the adult population of European countries and theUnited Statesis estimated at 20-50%, whereas in Asian countries it amounts to 60-90%. In recent years, there was an increased interest towards the use of conservative methods of treatment in order to stabilize myopia, including the use of pharmacological agents. The publications from 1964 up until today were analyzed in the following review. They were focused on the results of studies that showed the effect of different concentrations of atropine on myopia progression in children and adolescents who had been observed during a maximum period of 5 years.

Conclusion. According to numerous studies, low-concentration atropine (0.01%) is an effective mean to slow the progression of myopia and stabilize refraction. In addition, long-term therapeutic use of this particular concentration of atropine is associated with the least frequent occurrence of negative side effects.

Design and manufacture of material for contact lenses require a balance of functionality and comfort that is not achieved in all contact lenses. Tangible Hydra-PEG™ technology helps improve the surface properties of contact lenses of any type, including customized lenses made from any material.

Tangible Hydra-PEG –is a polymer coating, 90% water, which ensures maintenance of the tear film, improvement of wettability and lubricating, as well as resistance to the deposit formation, and therefore can be especially helpful to users of rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, which are worried about dry eyes or general discomfort when worn. According to conducted studies, 69% surveyed preferred lenses coated with Tangible Hydra-PEG™ to conventional lenses due to a higher level of comfort. This technology has been approved by the FDA. Now the products of the Optimum range produced by «Contamac» company are available with innovative Tangible Hydra-PEG™ coating: Optimum Classic (Dk 26), Comfort (Dk 65), Extra (Dk 100) и Extreme (Dk 125).

Time limits in the outpatient department practice do not allow to perform an extensive examination of young patients with refraction and accommodation disorders and to assess the severity and significance of the condition. Constantly redundant tension of accommodation (CRTA), weakness of accommodation, as well as the inflexibility of accommodation – they all have the similar clinical picture, require a careful approach to differential diagnosis and, thereby, different methods of treatment. Therefore, the accommodation examination of younger patients must be as comfortable as possible, not tedious, impersonal and informative. The accommodation disorders not only accompany, but also act like triggers as far as a number of diseases are concerned, the role of accommodation response delay has been already proven to be a reason of myopia progression. Underestimation of their role in the development of some pathological conditions can leave a patient without the required assistance and limit his or her visual performance during the most productive age.

The authors offer an examination algorithm that does not contradict with global requirements on this issue, but significantly reduces the amount of time period that a doctor need for detecting an accommodation disorder. The relevance of the suggested algorithm of subjective and objective accommodation examination methods is that they do not require expensive equipment, are not time-consuming and are quite accurate despite their apparent simplicity.