Common Interventions

Drugs: Atropine

• Slows refractive error and axial length change²

• Easy delivery method via eye drops^2,6

• Generally well-tolerated by children²

• Ocular & systemic side effects that may cause rebound²

• Long-term effects on a large population of children are unknown^2,6

• Potential for adverse events and side effects due to higher doses, particularly in high myopes^2,6

• ^{Available only from compound pharmacies which means higher costs for patients and less availability}

Rigid contact lens: Ortho-K

• Reshapes the cornea in order to reduce the optical factors that are thought to cause an increase in myopia²

• Wear at night only with no need for glasses during the day²

• Expensive and complex¹

• Discomfort for patient^1,2

• Risks of infection/inflammation due to night time wear^2,3,5

• Rebound effect if not worn consistently^7,8

• Potential for adverse events^1,7

Peripheral defocus modifying contact lenses: Soft contact lens (SCL’s)

• Considerable use by eye care practitioners (51%) of those actively managing myopia⁴

• Comfortable for patients¹

• Easy to fit for most doctors (mainstream modality)

• Potential for adverse events⁵

Progressive Addition Lenses or Bifocal Spectacles

• Can be used at any age

• Easy to prescribe, easy for kids to wear

• Some studies suggest better control with fast progressors, esophoria at near, high lags, and larger plus zones

• Most studies show majority of effect in first year

• Effectiveness ranges from a low of 20% in large studies with general populations to as high as 55% with reactive subgroups and large segment lenses