[Drug therapy of progressive myopia]

Abstract

To stabilize weak and medium-severity progressive myopia, instillations of cycloplegics (homatropin or tropicamid) and of hypotensive agents (clofelin or thymolol) were administered into the conjunctival cavity once a day (at bedtime). The course of treatment lasted 30 days and was repeated every 2-3 months. Complete stabilization of myopia was achieved in 65-58% of cases, as evidenced by a follow-up of 3 years, on an average. Incomplete stabilization of the condition was observed in 35-42% of patients, the annual progress gradient being above 0.15 diopters. Simultaneously an accumulation of the relative accommodation reserves was observed, by 38.3% on an average, and a resolution of asthenopia. In a reference group of 50 subjects (100 eyes) spontaneous stabilization took place in 27% of cases, the relative accommodation reserve being unchanged.