Background: Epidemiologic data demonstrate a rise in myopia prevalence. Therefore interventions to reduce the risk of myopia and its progression are needed and increasingly often asked for.
Methods: Systematic literature search via PubMed in MEDLINE.
Results: Myopia progression can be reduced by the following means which are listed according to their efficacy: (1) Atropine eye drops low dosed to avoid clinically relevant side effects, (2) optical means aiming at the correction of peripheral hyperopic defocus, e. g., multifocal contact lenses, and (3) increased daylight exposure.
Conclusion: Daylight exposure reduces the risk of incident myopia. Children should be advised to spend sufficient time outdoors, especially before and in primary school. Myopia progression can be effectively attenuated by low-dose topical atropine and multifocal contact lenses.
Keywords: Atropine; Contact lens; Eyedrops; Sunlight; Therapy.