Atropine for Myopia Management

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What is Atropine Treatment for Nearsightedness in Children?

In addition to other available options for treating childhood myopia, one increasingly popular way to slow the progression is the use of low concentration atropine drops. Slowing the progression of the condition is critical, since it can lead to more serious ocular conditions in adults such as retinal detachment, cataracts, and glaucoma. Taking into account the rising rates of world-wide myopia, this represents a promising intervention to prevent serious complications.

And unlike other interventions, this is a non-invasive intervention without the side effects or complications that may arise with more invasive procedures. It is important to note that this is not a cure, but rather an intervention to preserve vision and stop progression of the disease. It is not without its concerns. Some parents are hesitant to use these treatments without more research, as are some optometrists who are reluctant to use these drops without comprehensive research.

Treatment of Children With Nearsightedness

Atropine treatment is relatively simple. Low dose eye drops are administered daily. Parents will need to ensure that they adhere to the treatment, particularly if they are the ones applying these drops for younger children. The efficacy of these treatments has strong support from research, and it seems to be based on its apparent reduction of correcting refractive error rather than affecting axial length elongation.

Much of the current debate centers around the specifics of the concentrations that are ideal for these drops, and offer the best corrective function without compromising safety. The American Optometric Association currently recommends a concentration of 0.05% solution based on current research to achieve the full efficacy without additional side effects.

Side effects are relatively minor and rare, and the research has shown no significant changes in an increase of pupil size. In addition to low concentration atropine for myopia, many children will still require the corrective measures of prescription glasses or contact lenses to achieve optimal vision improvement.

Nightly Application

The treatment is relatively easy. Night-time drops need to be applied daily to slow down myopic progression. The side effects of low dose drops are considered minimal. In rare cases, an optometrist may cease the treatment, if there are signs of infection, allergy, or other side effects that suggest a bad reaction.

Common Questions

Are low dose atropine drops a cure for slowing progression in childhood nearsightedness?

There is no cure. Research shows that they are an effective way to slow down the progression of myopia in children.

Are these treatments associated with fixing eye length (axial elongation)?

Although the exact mechanism and process remains unknown, the efficacy of the treatment of childhood myopia is based upon its apparent reduction of axial length.

What is myopia control?

This can refer to any number of interventions to slow progression of nearsightedness. Additional options include contact lenses and medical procedures.

Is this type of treatment sufficient to treat myopia?

In many instances, they aren't sufficient by themselves since they are primarily designed to slow down the progression. Additional interventions may include multifocal lenses, contacts lenses, etc.

What are the side effects of this treatment?

The side effects are minimal, although there are always rare instances where a treatment will have an effect on someone. In such circumstances a cessation of atropine may be required. Speak with your optometrist to discuss the risks and to determine if it is a viable option.

What is the cause of myopia?

Myopia is when the cornea, the front curvature of the eye, is too strong or the eyeball is too long, resulting for a person to see blurry far away. There are both genetic and environmental causes for myopia. In regards to family history, if both parents have myopia, there is a 50% chance the child will develop myopia. If one parent has myopia, there is a 33% chance the child will develop myopia. But even if neither parent has myopia there is a 25% chance the child will develop myopia. There are also environmental factors that can cause/be risk factors of myopia. For example if a person does excessive near work, spends more than 2 hours per day on digital devices, or spends less than 90 minutes a day outside, these can all increase the risk of developing myopia.

Can I stop myopia from getting worse?

There are various myopia management treatment options available to slow down the progression of your myopia. These include ortho-keratology speciality hard lenses, speciality multifocal contact lenses, and atropine eye drops. Consult your eye doctor today to determine which treatment option is best for you.

Why is my myopia/nearsightedness increasing?

As you grow, your eyeball grows longer resulting in your myopia to increase. However there are certain factors that can exacerbate the rate of your myopia progressing, some that are in your control and others that are not. There can be genetic factors that can increase your risk of developing higher levels of myopia, for instance if both of your parents are myopic this increases your risk of myopia. However, there can also be environmental factors as well. For instance, if you spend a prolonged period of time on digital devices (more than 2 hours per day) or do excessive near work in dim lighting, or spend very little time outdoors (less than 2 hours per day) this can all increase the rate of myopia progression. As your myopia progresses this places you at a higher risk of developing various sight-threatening ocular diseases, so be sure to consult your eye doctor today on various myopia management treatment options to help slow down the rate of your myopia progressing.

Is high myopia dangerous?

Yes. High myopia significantly increases your risk of getting various sight threatening ocular diseases, such as myopic maculopathy, retinal detachments and glaucoma. If you have 6.00D or more of myopia the risk of you getting myopic maculopathy increases by 40x whereas if you have low levels of myopia, like -2.00D, the risk of you getting myopic maculopathy is only 2x. Consult with your eye doctor about various myopia management treatment options.

Is Atropine a Viable Treatment for Childhood Myopia

Atropine has been shown to effectively slow down progressive myopia. This is critical, since severe instances can lead to more serious ocular conditions in adults. This is a non-invasive intervention with minimal risk of side effects or complications that may arise with other invasive procedures. While some optometrists and parents are hesitant to use these treatments without more research, many optometrists are impressed with the research and satisfied with the overall safety of its usage. Speak with your eye doctor to see if this is a viable option for your child as part of an overall treatment strategy.

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