Online shopping ＂magic＂ eye drops are popular among parents. Experts： Don’t abuse them.

　　A few days ago, China’s Ministry of Education found that the myopia rate of primary and secondary school students increased by 11.7% in half a year. Once a child is nearsighted, the degree is often higher every year. How to effectively control the degree has become a heart disease for parents.

　　In recent years, the news that "low concentration of atropine can prevent myopia" has been frequently exposed on the Internet. However, when parents go to hospitals or pharmacies to buy medicine, they find that this medicine has not been approved for marketing in National Medical Products Administration, and it can only be realized through internet hospitals or overseas purchasing. Because of the high price, it is often out of stock. What’s more, atropine is made and used according to the online formula, which brings security risks and health risks.

　　Unbearable children’s myopia

　　Parents are keen on online shopping for "atropine"

　　A 9-year-old boy (pseudonym) who lives in Houhu lies prone when writing, and unconsciously collapses on the sofa when watching TV at home … … Recently, when I looked at the blackboard, I found that it was a little blurred. I squinted, and the class teacher told my parents to take it to check my eyesight.

　　This investigation is really not good. The binocular vision is 0.6 and 0.4 every day, and the axial length has increased. After mydriasis, it is diagnosed as true myopia. It is recommended to have glasses in time. "I know that children are nearsighted now, but I didn’t expect to come so early." Every day, my mother has some regrets. Although she always reminds her children at ordinary times, she has not urged them in place.

　　Soon, in the sharing of parents and chatting with friends, she found a lot of "resonance". A group of friends sent relevant research and reports at home and abroad to share, claiming that the effective and safe intervention to control myopia "low concentration atropine" eye drops quickly "planted grass" in the hearts of parents. According to the net article, a box of Taiwanese atropine in 300 yuan has long been sold out of stock, and only a few specialized hospitals in China are allowed to make in-hospital preparations, which can only be prescribed by prescription.

　　The reporter’s search found that there were many help posts asking about how to prescribe atropine online, and even there were forums with "technical posts" to teach the dilution and deployment methods of the preparation.

　　The state has not yet approved the listing.

　　Blind use of atropine is risky

　　"In fact, atropine, as an anticholinergic agent, has a variety of pharmacological effects, mainly mydriasis in clinical application of ophthalmology." Shi Minghua, director of oblique amblyopia and pediatric ophthalmology at Hanyang Aier Eye Hospital, said that parents often consult this medicine in clinical work.

　　In recent years, research institutions represented by Singapore National Ophthalmology Research Institute believe that low concentration of atropine (0.01%-0.1%) can inhibit the axial growth caused by myopia, thus delaying the rapid progress of myopia. However, its pharmacological mechanism of controlling myopia is not completely clear, and it is also controversial in the medical field, so it is recommended to consider it carefully. The drug has not been approved to be listed in Chinese mainland, even if it is listed, it must be used by prescription under the guidance of ophthalmologists, and there are certain risks in Haitao purchasing or even using atropine injection to prepare itself.

　　"For example, it may cause mydriasis, elevated intraocular pressure, photophobia, blurred vision, redness and dry mouth. If it is prepared by itself, the concentration is improper, the composition is unstable and easy to pollute, which may lead to eye infection." Shi Minghua pointed out that there is still controversy about the efficacy of low concentration atropine in controlling myopia development, so we should not expect too much from it. If you are a patient with glaucoma or other hidden diseases, blind use will aggravate the condition. According to media reports, a 7-year-old child in Hangzhou has a myopia of 100 degrees. His father inquired about buying atropine and gave it to the child every night. When he went to check again, he found that the child’s intraocular pressure increased. The doctor said that if it remained at a high level for a long time, it would damage the optic nerve.

　　It is reported that China is currently doing large-scale multi-center clinical trials, such as the best concentration, frequency and course of treatment, whether it can be used in combination with high and low concentrations, and the rebound after drug withdrawal. It usually takes 7 to 10 years from clinical trials to approval.

　　Outdoor activities are the best prevention.

　　To control children’s myopia, we should play "combination boxing"

　　According to the survey results in China in 2018, the overall myopia rate of children and adolescents in China is 53.6%, among which high myopia (≥ 600 degrees) accounted for 21.9%.

　　The reason is related to parents falling into many misunderstandings. Shi Minghua explained that many parents are convinced that wearing glasses will make their children’s eyes deformed and protruding. In fact, this is largely caused by the increase of axial length caused by myopia itself, rather than wearing glasses.

　　For minors, if they continue to overuse their eyes after myopia, myopia will continue to deepen. According to relevant surveys, the myopia degree of myopic children and adolescents in China increases by about 75-100 degrees on average every year. Many parents hope to wait for their children to have surgery when they are adults. In fact, once the myopia is too high, it may lead to surgery. In addition, myopia surgery only changed the refractive system of the eyes, which is equivalent to a pair of permanent contact glasses, and myopia has not been eliminated. The pathological changes caused by it will not improve.

　　Wuhan Visual Defense Center reminds that prevention and control of myopia must be multi-pronged. The most effective way to control the development of myopia is to minimize the use of close eyes and ensure 2-3 hours of outdoor activities every day. There are also medical AIDS to help control the development of myopia, including multifocal soft contact lenses, defocused frame glasses and orthokeratology.

　　Once parents find that their children’s eyesight is declining, it is recommended to go to regular hospitals or optometry institutions for medical optometry in time, and control their myopia development by personalized means under the condition of controlling their own eyes. More importantly, the prevention port should be moved forward, and eye refractive development files should be established for children at the preschool stage, and relevant prevention and control work should be carried out.

　　Reporter Yan Yan