Factors Associated With Follow-Up Visits in Parents With Myopic Children Wearing Orthokeratology Lens.

Background: Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) is an effective method for slowing the progression of myopia and correcting refractive error in school children. Although parents of children aged < 10 years play a major role in Ortho-k lens care, they have a generally low level of compliance in performing regular follow-up visits.

Purpose: This study was developed to analyze the associations between follow-up visits by parents of Ortho-k lens wearers aged < 10 years and, respectively, the Ortho-k-related knowledge of these parents and information resources promoting Ortho-k use.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Parents of children who wear Ortho-k lenses were recruited through a private Facebook group with 3,500 members in 2020 that was created in 2018 for information sharing and exchange among parents of these children. The following data were collected: demographics of the parents and their children, four-item Ortho-k-related knowledge, information resources that prompted the decision to use Ortho-k, and the regularity of follow-up visits. These data were presented in terms of means, standard deviations, and percentages. Logistic regression was performed to compute the odds ratios ( OR s) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: The study showed that 83.11% had regular follow-up visits. The correct response rate on Ortho-k-related knowledge was > 80%. However, 15.51% of the participants did not recognize axial length as an indicator for monitoring myopia progress, and 10.76% did not know that at least 6 hours of nighttime sleep is required for myopia control with Ortho-k. The most common information resource leading to Ortho-k use was self-acquisition from Internet sources. The spherical equivalent refraction of < -2.0 D was 2.58 times higher in participants with regular follow-up visits than in their peers with irregular follow-up visits ( OR = 2.58, 95% CI [0.22, 5.63]). In addition, acknowledgment of "There is no need to change the Ortho-k lenses regularly as long as there is no discomfort" was 7.19 times higher in participants with regular follow-up visits than in their peers with irregular follow-up visits ( OR = 7.19, 95% CI [1.26, 13.93]). However, participants with regular follow-up visits did not receive Internet ophthalmology advertisements prompting their decision to use Ortho-k 2.62 times higher than their peers with irregular follow-up visits ( OR = 2.62, 95% CI [0.04, 4.29]).

Conclusions: The results support that both information sources and knowledge of Ortho-k use influence the frequency of follow-up visits among parents of Ortho-k lens wearers aged < 10 years. Related support from health professionals in terms of providing appropriate information and guidance is recommended to promote higher rates of regular follow-up visit attendance.