Eye specialists have warned people to beware the latest 'vision correction' contact lenses, and surgery claiming to treat short-sightedness.
The Ortho-K rigid contact lenses, which flatten the curve of the cornea to reduce myopia and focusing problems, may have limited success if the user's cornea is not sufficiently curved.
People with eye diseases such as conjunctivitis should not attempt to use Ortho-K lenses, a report by experts from the College of Ophthalmologists, the Hong Kong Optometric Association and the Polytechnic University's Department of Optometry revealed.
And regular lenses still had to be used each day to keep the cornea in place after the tailor-made Ortho-K lenses had reduced the myopia, according to the study released yesterday by the Consumer Council.
'The use of Ortho-K lenses to reduce the progression of myopia in children is still controversial . . . no report supporting such practice could be found in medical literature,' the study claimed.
When they were launched in Hong Kong last year, Ortho-K lenses were promoted as suitable for Chinese people's small corneas. They can cost up to $18,000 a pair with fitting and follow-ups.
