What are these "Atropine" drops to prevent / cure Myopia?

 This is a updated version of June 2024 as opposed to same post of the old on the same topic. This contains newer relevant information. We have retained the old post to just lend you a perspective. Under the guidance of a Kids Eye Doctor the Atropine drops does work.  The Drops are available in India. 

Old post=

This "New Treatment" of "Atropine drops to prevent progression of Myopia" has originated from a Study being done in Singapore, SNEC. 

Treatment: Atropine drops are instilled daily to prevent the progression of Myopia in Children.

100% of the Children of Singapore are Myopic (also a high percentage in Chinese).This is an alarming factor, as a statistic and a health concern for a nation.

When Atropine was used for other purposes, the progression of Myopia was arrested.

So a prospective study was started. 1% atropine drops were instilled once a day in eyes of Kids. This definitely arrested the myopia progression. But it got along with it, a dilated pupil, allowing much extra light to enter the eye, hence discomfort and unknown long term ill effects. It also brought along difficulty in near vision, where Kids had to be given glasses for near vision or progressive glasses. Plus logically, the treatment has to stop at some time, when the myopia came back, known as rebound myopia, in a much severe progression. So it did not serve the purpose.

So the next prospective study was done with 0.5 %  Atropine drops. Again same results. This definitely arrested the myopia progression. But it got along with it, a dilated pupil, allowing much extra light to enter the eye, hence discomfort and unknown long term ill effects. It also brought along difficulty in near vision, where Kids had to be given glasses for near vision or progressive glasses. Plus logically, the treatment has to stop at some time, when the myopia came back, known as rebound myopia, in a much severe progression. So it did not serve the purpose.

So now the latest study is on with 0.01% Atropine drops. It does stop the progression of Myopia. But the questions and ill effects still remain. 

So whenever my patients hear or read about these "New treatements" i talk to them in detail about this. Ask them to read about it. Then again discuss. Then ask them to get drops from Singapore . The 0.01 % drops are not available in India, and the doctors in India are diluting physically the 1 % drops and giving to their patients.

After all these deliberations , only a small % of my patients have opted for this treatment.  But as a researcher i am as yet not dismissing it, i am awaiting definite conclusions.

THESE  DROPS  ARE  NOW  AVAILABLE  IN INDIA  BY INDIAN COMAPNIES.

Updated February 2019: American Academy of Paediatric Ophthalomology has published that the new figures for Myopia in USA are 40% of kids below 15 years of age. Use of iPads, Phones and TV being the main culprit again.

Why does my child complain of headaches and burning eyes while studying.

 This is a common complain in children studying everyday.

First reason for burning eyes i will attribute to the horrible pollution and AQI.

Secondly when you study your blink rate reduces, causing dry eye and burning. This in turn causes watering from the eyes. 

Headaches usually have to do with faulty glasses, anxiety, bad lighting and over worked eyes.

MYOPIA

What is myopia ?

It is a Refractive error of the eye which is corrected by minus number glasses (eg -2.25 D spherical).

In very layman terms, near objects are seen clearly and distant objects , or things far away are seen blurred.

What is the best treatment ?

Myopia can  easily and commonly corrected with (a) glasses (b) contact lenses. There are also newer surgeries for Myopia but they have to be taken up only after a certain age of the patient , after thorough assessment and after reviewing the side effects.

How does age affect myopia ?  or

Why do numbers increase ?

Normally every one is born with a little plus (+) numbers and as we grow (till  10-12 years) due to changes or growth in the eye this becomes zero (emmotropia).

But suppose you are detected with minus numbers (myopia) at age 4-10 then these numbers will increase till you grow to 18-21 years of age and then they will stabilize. Usually there is no change in numbers after this.  

Why should a myopia patient get a Retina check regularly ?

Retina, as it is is a very thin and delicate , innermost layer to the eyeball. In myopia it is extra thin. Further more there are some extra thin, frayed areas, called as Lattice found majorly in Myopes. These have to be specially looked for by a Retina Specialist.

These make a myope more prone or liable to Retina Problems (especially Retinal Detachment).

Cautions or Self Tests in Myopia ?.

Decrease in vision

Decrease in field of vision

Sudden increase in floaters (black spots)

Flashes of lightening

Curtain of darkness (Retinal Detachment)

The above 2 ** are an Emergency and you should contact and see your eye doctor immediately.

Why do I see these Black spots (Floaters) or Wiggly lines ?

In certain conditions the jelly that fills your eye (vitreous) it starts converting to liquid. The strands that float in the pockets of liquid formed, you see them as black flecks (floaters)  or wiggly lines. They will not harm you. You will learn to ignore them.

What is Laser therapy sometimes advised to a Myopia patient, even children?

When the thin areas, Lattice, seem likely to produce a potential to damage, they are welded more firmly to the eye by Laser. It is a very painless, OPD procedure.

Can Myopia be cured by “Special medicines” / Yoga / exercises ?

Myopia can be treated, it can not be cured. Patients can lead a normal life with the aid of glasses and contact lenses and should enthusiastically do so.

Updated February 2019: American Academy of Paediatric Ophthalomology has published that the new figures for Myopia in USA are 40% of kids below 15 years of age. Use of iPads, Phones and TV being the main culprit again.

What is this new "Atropine to prevent Myopia" ?

This is a updated version of June 2024 to the old post. This contains newer relevant information. We have retained the old post to just lend you a perspective. Under the guidance of a Kids Eye Doctor the Atropine drops does work.  The Drops are available in India. 

Old post=

This "New Treatment" of "Atropine drops to prevent progression of Myopia" has originated from a Study being done in Singapore, SNEC. 

Treatment: Atropine drops are instilled daily to prevent the progression of Myopia in Children.

100% of the Children of Singapore are Myopic (also a high percentage in Chinese).This is an alarming factor, as a statistic and a health concern for a nation.

When Atropine was used for other purposes, the progression of Myopia was arrested.

So a prospective study was started. 1% atropine drops were instilled once a day in eyes of Kids. This definitely arrested the myopia progression. But it got along with it, a dilated pupil, allowing much extra light to enter the eye, hence discomfort and unknown long term ill effects. It also brought along difficulty in near vision, where Kids had to be given glasses for near vision or progressive glasses. Plus logically, the treatment has to stop at some time, when the myopia came back, known as rebound myopia, in a much severe progression. So it did not serve the purpose.

So the next prospective study was done with 0.5 %  Atropine drops. Again same results. This definitely arrested the myopia progression. But it got along with it, a dilated pupil, allowing much extra light to enter the eye, hence discomfort and unknown long term ill effects. It also brought along difficulty in near vision, where Kids had to be given glasses for near vision or progressive glasses. Plus logically, the treatment has to stop at some time, when the myopia came back, known as rebound myopia, in a much severe progression. So it did not serve the purpose.

So now the latest study is on with 0.01% Atropine drops. It does stop the progression of Myopia. But the questions and ill effects still remain. 

So whenever my patients hear or read about these "New treatements" i talk to them in detail about this. Ask them to read about it. Then again discuss. Then ask them to get drops from Singapore . The 0.01 % drops are not available in India, and the doctors in India are diluting physically the 1 % drops and giving to their patients.

After all these deliberations , only a small % of my patients have opted for this treatment.  But as a researcher i am as yet not dismissing it, i am awaiting definite conclusions.

THESE  DROPS  ARE  NOW  AVAILABLE  IN INDIA  BY INDIAN COMAPNIES.

Updated February 2019: American Academy of Paediatric Ophthalomology has published that the new figures for Myopia in USA are 40% of kids below 15 years of age. Use of iPads, Phones and TV being the main culprit again.