What are some of the main medical treatments for myopia?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Myopia can be easily treated with corrective lenses, either through eyeglasses or contact lenses. There are also surgical treatments, such as laser vision correction (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK) and intraocular lens implants. Some people may not be good candidates for surgical treatments, especially if their vision worsens every year or if they have a comorbid eye condition.[1]

    A potential pharmacological treatment is atropine eye drops for the prevention of myopia in children. However, this treatment may be accompanied by other unpleasant side effects, such as photophobia (fear/avoidance of light) and cycloplegia (the inability to focus on objects up close).[2]

    References

    1. ^Baird PN, Saw SM, Lanca C, Guggenheim JA, Smith Iii EL, Zhou X, Matsui KO, Wu PC, Sankaridurg P, Chia A, Rosman M, Lamoureux EL, Man R, He MMyopia.Nat Rev Dis Primers.(2020-Dec-17)
    2. ^Lawrenson JG, Shah R, Huntjens B, Downie LE, Virgili G, Dhakal R, Verkicharla PK, Li D, Mavi S, Kernohan A, Li T, Walline JJInterventions for myopia control in children: a living systematic review and network meta-analysis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2023-Feb-16)