Test for eye drops slows myopia

Researchers from the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma (USA) have tested an eye ointment that works to slow myopia.

Currently nearly a quarter of the world's population is nearsighted - a disease that loses the ability to see objects near or far away. The reason is that the eyeball size is too large or the cornea is too curved. Nearsightedness usually begins between the ages of 8 and 10, and gets worse over time. Nearsighted patients are required to use eye vision devices such as near-sighted glasses, with increasing glasses and relatively expensive glasses.

Using new drugs can prevent progressive myopia.(Photo: Novelobs)

Researchers from the University of Oklahoma Department of Ophthalmology have tested a drug that can prevent nearsighted progress in young children. The results are published in detail in the journal of the Ophthalmology Association and the American eye diseases, issued in August 2008.

According to the study results, if the ointment containing pirenzépine (muscarin M1 receptor antagonist) is taken daily for 2 years, it may slow the rate of nearsightedness in case the child is not too close. Children treated with this method of eyes will only increase by an average of 0.58 diodes instead of increasing to 0.99 diodes in children who do not use the medicine.

Even if the eye is only slightly raised, it may cause bad consequences, so the patient is usually assigned a glass change when the eye starts to reach 0.75 diodes.

During the study, only 37% of children treated with pirenzépine had to change eyeglasses, while the number of children in the non-drug group accounted for 68%.

In fact, it is not only the new pirenzépine that effectively reduces eye myopia. Previous eye treatment studies have also shown that atropine (often used in ophthalmology) also has an eye treatment effect. However, this substance causes many serious side effects. In contrast, pirenzépine does not cause any side effects. Only about 11% of children have to stop treatment because of hypersensitivity.

Final tests, such as the long-term effectiveness of this treatment, will be completed before the introduction of pirenzépine and use for myopia patients.