The effects of entrance pupil centration and coma aberrations on myopic progression following orthokeratology

BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess the potential association between entrance pupil location relative to the coaxially sighted corneal light reflex (CSCLR) and the progression of myopia in children fitted with orthokeratology (OK) contact lenses. Additionally, whether coma aberration induced by decentration of the entrance pupil centre relative to the CSCLR, as well as following OK treatment, is correlated with the progression of myopia, was also investigated. METHODS: Twenty-nine subjects aged six to 12 years and with myopia of -0.75 to -4.00 DS and astigmatism up to 1.00 DC were fitted with OK contact lenses. Measurements of axial length and corneal topography were taken at six-month intervals over a two-year period. Additionally, baseline and three-month topographic outputs were taken as representative of the pre- and post-orthokeratology treatment status. Pupil centration relative to the CSCLR and magnitude of associated corneal coma were derived from corneal topographic data at baseline and after three months of lens wear. RESULTS: The centre of the entrance pupil was located superio-temporally to the CSCLR both pre- (0.09 ± 0.14 and -0.10 ± 0.15 mm, respectively) and post-orthokeratology (0.12 ± 0.18 and -0.09 ± 0.15 mm, respectively) (p > 0.05). Entrance pupil location pre- and post-orthokeratology lens wear was not significantly associated with the two-year change in axial length (p > 0.05). Significantly greater coma was found at the entrance pupil centre compared with CSCLR both pre- and post-orthokeratology lens wear (both p < 0.05). A significant increase in vertical coma was found with OK lens wear compared to baseline (p < 0.001) but total root mean square (RMS) coma was not associated with the change in axial length (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Entrance pupil location relative to the CSCLR was not significantly affected by either OK lens wear or an increase in axial length. Greater magnitude coma aberrations found at the entrance pupil centre in comparison to the CSCLR might be attributed to centration of orthokeratological treatments at the CSCLR.