Use of Clinical Pharmacology in Slowing the Myopia Epidemic.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is in epidemic proportions in the world today. The eyecare community has long been desirous of pharmacological treatments to slow myopic progression. Most recently, two proprietary formulations of low-dose atropine were approved. In this article, the author summarizes the challenge to develop therapies for a chronic, preventative, and pediatric treatment, and how clinical pharmacologists' knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutics can optimize the development of therapies to slow myopic progression.