From the Guidelines
To affordably control myopia progression, consider a combination of low-dose atropine eye drops (0.01% concentration), as it has been shown to slow myopia progression by 50-60% with minimal side effects, and increased outdoor time of at least 2 hours daily. According to the most recent study 1, low-dose atropine eye drops are effective in slowing the progression of myopia in school children, with a concentration of 0.01% being the most effective with minimal side effects.
The cost of low-dose atropine eye drops is relatively affordable, typically costing $30-60 per month at compounding pharmacies. In contrast, specialized contact lenses like MiSight or Ortho-K lenses are more expensive options, costing $500-2000 annually, but are effective for children who can manage them.
Some key points to consider when controlling myopia progression include:
- Increased outdoor time of at least 2 hours daily
- Proper reading habits, such as maintaining a 30cm distance from reading materials
- Regular eye breaks following the 20-20-20 rule, looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes
- Regular comprehensive eye exams every 6-12 months to monitor progression and adjust treatment
These approaches work by reducing axial elongation of the eye and decreasing peripheral hyperopic defocus, which triggers abnormal eye growth. For children under 18 with rapidly progressing myopia (increasing by 0.50 diopters or more annually), early intervention is particularly important to prevent high myopia complications later in life, as supported by studies 1.
From the Research
Cost-Effective Myopia Control Options
To break the cost barrier in myopia control, several options can be considered:
- Outdoor activity, which can reduce the onset of myopia and is a cost-effective option, yielding a savings of US $5/SER reduction and US $8/AL reduction 2
- Atropine eye drops, specifically 0.01% and 0.05% doses, which have been shown to be effective in slowing myopia progression and are cost-effective, with an ICER of US $220/SER reduction for 0.05% atropine 2
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K), which can slow axial length elongation and is a cost-effective option, with an ICER of US $2376/AL reduction 2
- Red light therapy and highly aspherical lenslets (HALs), which may also be cost-effective, although more expensive, with ICERs of US $846/SER reduction and US $448/SER reduction, respectively 2
Comparison of Myopia Control Interventions
The efficacy of different myopia control interventions has been compared in several studies:
- Atropine has been shown to be effective in slowing myopia progression, with a dose-dependent efficacy, and is considered a cost-effective option 3, 4, 2
- Ortho-K has been shown to be comparable to atropine in controlling myopia progression, particularly in high myopia patients 5
- The combination of atropine and Ortho-K has been shown to have a synergistic effect and may be a cost-effective option 4
Factors Affecting Cost-Effectiveness
The cost-effectiveness of myopia control interventions can be affected by several factors, including:
- The cost of the intervention, including the cost of hospital visits, medications, and optical lenses 2
- The efficacy of the intervention in slowing myopia progression and reducing axial length elongation 6, 3, 4, 5
- The age of the patient and the severity of their myopia, with high myopia patients potentially benefiting more from certain interventions 5