Treatment Options for Myopia

Nonsurgical Treatments for Nearsightedness

Most people with myopia wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their blurred vision.

Research shows that medicated eye drops may be a key to slowing the rapid progression of impaired eyesight in children with myopia.

In a study, researchers in Singapore used atropine eye drops — a common treatment for lazy eye — to treat myopia. They found that low doses of atropine can reduce the progress of nearsightedness without the side effects that higher doses bring.

Surgery to Treat Myopia

If a patient is 21 years or older, refractive laser surgery to correct nearsightedness can be done. Under special circumstances, younger patients also may have refractive laser surgery. 

Patients of the Myopia Treatment Center have surgery at the Eye & Ear Institute, part of the UPMC Eye Center.

A Team Approach to Myopia Treatment

At the Myopia Treatment Center, eye disease experts work together to design clinical pathways for treating nearsightedness.

A clinical pathway details the steps in the care process for people with a defined health problem and describes the expected progress.

The goals of these treatment pathways are to:

• Standardize care
• Improve outcomes
• Reduce health care costs

Make an appointment at the Myopia Treatment Center at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Call 412-692-8940 to make an appointment for myopia treatment.