Low Dose Atropine

Eye drops that slow-down the progression of myopia

Atropine is a medicine that has been used in eye care for many years. At very low concentrations it can be used to help slow the progression of myopia in children.

Low-dose atropine does not correct the short-sightedness a child already has. Your child will therefore still need appropriate glasses or contact lenses to provide clear vision.

The purpose of treatment is to reduce how quickly the myopia progresses over time.

At Myopia Doctor, our clinicians specialise in the assessment and management of childhood myopia. Our Independent Prescribing (IP) Optometrists are qualified to assess your child and, where clinically appropriate, prescribe prescription-only eye medicines for myopia management.

Ryjunea® low-dose atropine

Where atropine treatment is clinically appropriate, one medicine that may be considered is Ryjunea® 0.1 mg/ml eye drops, manufactured by Santen.

Ryjunea contains atropine sulfate at a concentration of 0.01% atropine, and is a prescription-only medicine licensed in the UK for slowing the progression of myopia in children.

Ryjunea is licensed for treatment to be initiated in children aged 3 to 14 years with:

  • myopia between −0.50D and −6.00D, and
  • myopia progression of 0.50D or more per year.

Whether atropine is appropriate for your child will be determined following a detailed myopia assessment.

How effective is low-dose atropine?

Ryjunea has been evaluated in a large Phase III clinical study involving children with myopia.

The study demonstrated that children treated with Ryjunea experienced significantly less progression of their short-sightedness compared with children receiving the control eye drops. The treatment effect was greater in children whose myopia was already progressing by at least 0.50D per year, and larger effects were observed in younger children.

As with all myopia-control treatments, atropine does not completely stop myopia in every child. The aim is to slow progression, and individual responses vary.

For this reason, treatment needs to be combined with regular monitoring rather than simply prescribing the drops and leaving the child unchecked.

3 Steps to Managing Myopia

Examination | Prescribing | Monitoring

STEP 1: Book Myopia Consultation

A myopia management consultation costs £95. This, together with your NHS eye test will allow us to assess your child’s suitability for various myopia management options and set benchmarks for success.

STEP 2: Discussion of Pros and Cons

Assess suitability.  This involves discussing the pros and cons of treatment, the efficacy explaining when and how to apply the drops.

STEP 3: Enrol on Management Plan

The myopia management plan is recommended for all children having myopia treatment. This covers 6 monthly follow-up visits using our extensive technology to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.

STEP 1: Book Myopia Consultation

A myopia management consultation costs £75. This, together with your NHS eye test will allow us to assess your child’s suitability for various myopia management options and set benchmarks for success.

STEP 2: MiSight Extended Trial

If MiSight lenses are suitable, we’ll show you how to apply and remove the lenses safely.  If we’re happy, you’ll be able to take the lenses away for a few days.

STEP 3: Enrol on Management Plan

The myopia management plan is recommended for all children having myopia treatment. This covers 6 monthly follow-up visits using our extensive technology to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.

Take the first step in protecting your Child’s vision…

(we recommend you bring sunglasses and a cap for you child as drops will make your son or daughter light sensitive for a few hours)

Book A Consultation

Myopia Plan

A comprehensive care plan for your child
misight monitoring

Myopia plan covers all follow-up appointments & MiYOSMART lenses

  • Vision assessment
  • Eye teaming (muscle balance) assessment

  • Assessment of drop compliance

  • Lenstar Axial Length measurement

  • Optical Prescription measurement

  • Myopia Progression Report

Why Choose Us?

Specialist Technology

We use the most robust clinical examination and monitoring protocols.  Key to this is our ability to measure axial length – a direct measure to assess eye growth.  Whilst you may be under the impression that simply measuring the prescription is the best way to see if myopia management is working, this is not the case.  Axial length measurement is 6x more sensitive to changes in eye growth compared to measuring optical prescription changes.  This matters because having confidence in knowing the treatment is working is key to deciding when to switch treatments.

Experience

We’ve been doing myopia management for many years with Ortho-k treatment.  Our practice was on of the first practices in the UK to perform ortho-k.  Moreover, our principal Optometrist, Dr. Dave, is the co-author of World’s most definitive text on Orthokeratology.

Choice

We don’t just perform one type of Myopia Management Treatment, we offer all currently available treatments in the UK,  This means that if the type of treatment needs to change, we will be able to offer you Ortho-k or MiYOSMART lenses without you having to be referred to anyone else.

Take the first step in protecting your Child’s vision…

(we recommend you bring sunglasses and a cap for you child as drops will make your son or daughter light sensitive for a few hours)

Book A Consultation