Can Myopia Be Slowed Down? Exploring Atropine Drops, Ortho-K, and More

Myopia is more than just the inconvenience of needing glasses to see clearly at a distance. For many children, it’s a progressive condition that worsens as they grow, increasing the risk of serious eye problems later in life. Parents often ask: Can anything be done to slow it down? Fortunately, modern optometry has developed several proven strategies that go beyond vision correction to actually help manage myopia progression.
 

Understanding Myopia Progression

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. This results in blurry distance vision. While glasses and contact lenses correct the blur, they don’t address the underlying eye growth. That’s where myopia management comes in.
 

Atropine Eye Drops

Low-dose atropine drops have become one of the leading treatments for slowing down myopia progression. These prescription drops, used daily at bedtime, help relax the eye’s focusing mechanism. Clinical studies have shown that atropine can significantly reduce the rate of myopia progression in children, making it a safe and effective long-term option under professional supervision.
 

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Ortho-K lenses are custom-designed contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while you sleep. In the morning, the lenses are removed, leaving the child or teen with clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or contacts. Beyond vision correction, Ortho-K has been shown to slow the elongation of the eye that causes myopia to worsen, making it a dual-purpose treatment.
 

Multifocal Contact Lenses

Specialized soft multifocal contact lenses are another option for children and teens. These lenses are worn during the day and feature different power zones that help reduce the stimulus for eye elongation. Clinical trials have shown that multifocal lenses can significantly slow myopia progression while still providing excellent vision for school, sports, and daily activities.
 

Lifestyle Adjustments

While treatments like atropine and Ortho-K are powerful tools, lifestyle also plays an important role. Increasing outdoor time, limiting prolonged near work (like reading or screen time), and practicing the “20-20-20” rule (taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look 20 feet away) can help support healthy vision development.
 

Take Control of Your Child’s Vision

Myopia doesn’t have to keep getting worse year after year. With today’s advanced treatments like atropine drops, Ortho-K, and multifocal contact lenses, families have real options to slow down progression and protect long-term eye health.

At Alameda Eyes Optometry, we specialize in personalized myopia management plans tailored to your child’s unique needs. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam to learn which treatment options are right for your family. Visit our office in Alameda, California, or call (510) 769-2020 today.