Nearsightedness
What is myopia?
Myopia is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. There are several treatments that our doctors will consider based on your individual eye health. The most common treatment is the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct myopia, which correct the way your eyes refract light. Refractive surgery can correct myopia by surgical reshaping the cornea. Lastly, myopia can be treated using atropine drops, which can slow the progression of myopia.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error. This means that the eye does not properly bend (refract) light due to an eye that is longer than normal and a cornea that is too steep, which causes images seen by the eye to appear unclear. In myopia, the refractive error causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects remain clear.
Symptoms include:
- Eyestrain
- Headaches
- Squinting to see properly
- Difficulty seeing faraway objects
Atropine for Myopia
Atropine 0.01% has proven to be effective in diminishing progression of myopia, or nearsightedness, in children1.
A child is eligible for atropine treatment if:
- 6-12 years of age.
- Progression >1 diopter over one year interval.
- Progression 0.5-1 diopter, if a significant family history of high myopia.
Child will receive one drop of the Atropine 0.01% into each eye at bedtime. This therapy continues for 2 years and then is tapered off. Initial follow-up appointment is 3 months after initiating the eyedrops.
Increasing your child's daylight exposure and reducing intense periods of near work may be helpful in decreasing myopic progression as well.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment to determine your individual eye health and create a treatment plan that works best for you and your family.
1. Chia A, Lu QS, Tan D. Five-Year Clinical Trial on Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia 2: Myopia Control with Atropine 0.01% Eyedrops. 201 6 Feb; 123(2): 391-9.
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