Effects of atropine and tropicamide on ocular biological parameters in children: a prospective observational study

Abstract

Background The effectiveness of cycloplegia in delaying the progression of myopia and its application in refractive examination in children have been extensively studied, but there are still few studies on the effects of atropine/tropicamide on ocular biological parameters. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects of atropine/tropicamide on children's ocular biological parameters in different age groups and the differences between them. Methods This was a prospective observational study in which all school children were examined for dioptres and ocular biological parameters in the outpatient clinic, and 1% atropine or tropicamide was used for treatment. After examination, we enrolled the patients grouped by age (age from 2 to 12 years treated by atropine, 55 cases; age from 2 to 10 years treated by tropicamide, 70 cases; age from 14 to 17 years treated by tropicamide, 70 cases). The ocular biological parameters of each patient before and after cycloplegia were measured, and the difference and its absolute value were calculated for statistical analysis using an independent-samples t test. Results We compared the value and the absolute value of the differences in ocular biological parameters before and after cycloplegia in the same age group, and we found that the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the corresponding values of AL, K1 and ACD among the different age groups (P < 0.05). Before cycloplegia, there were significant differences in AL, K, K1, K2 and ACD in different age groups (P < 0.05). However, the differences in AL, K, K1, K2 and ACD among different age groups disappeared after cycloplegia (P > 0.05). Conclusions This study demonstrated that atropine/tropicamide have different effects on cycloplegia in children of different ages. The effects of atropine/tropicamide on ocular biological parameters should be fully considered when evaluating the refractive state before refractive surgery or mydriasis optometry for children of different ages.

The accuracy of using vergence formula to screen myopia in children: a cross-sectional study

“…Previous studies have shown that the changes in ocular biometric parameters before and after mydriasis are smaller than diopters ( 16–18 ). Tao et al ( 19 ) found that even in young children who use atropine for mydriasis, there is no significant change in ocular biometric parameters. The invention of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) biometer has enabled non-invasive and easy measurement of ocular biometric parameters, which can be better accepted by subjects and their families and serve as a good objective indicator for evaluating refractive status.…”

Assessment of the effects of myopic and hyperopic anisometropia on choroidal vascular structure in children using SS‐OCTA

“…With regard to AL measurements, previous studies have shown no significant effect of tropicamide or phenylephrine on both cataract patients and children. [42][43][44] However, Cheng et al 45 observed an increase in AL following the instillation of tropicaminde. While the use of atropine (1%) did not produce a significant change in AL, 46,47 the same concentration being instilled one to two times a day for 1 week resulted in choroid thickening at the fovea in healthy myopic children.…”

Myopia management attitudes in children in clinical practice, towards an innovative and environmental study in Morocco

“…It has also been found that spending much more time outdoors delays the onset of myopia [14]. There are also pharmaceutical options such as atropine, although several studies have reported that the discontinuation of the treatment cause a risk of reduced accommodation and increased rebound of axial elongation [15], [16], [17].…”