Efficacy of Atropine in Treatment/Decreasing Progress of Myopia

Abstract

Aim:To study the effectiveness of atropine in retarding progressive axial myopia in the age group 5 to 15. Materials and Methods:This prospective interventional cohort study included children aged 5-15 years. Both the eyes of myopic children with progressive increase of ≥−0.5D sphere/year with the best-corrected vision of ≥6/6 were treated with once a day application of 0.01% atropine eye drops. The progression of myopia after 1-year follow-up was analyzed.Outcome measures: Outcome was measured by the visual acuity using snellens chart every month till 12 months.Results: 50 eyes of 25 myopes were included in the study. The mean age was 10 years. The mean baseline sphere was −5.0D. Duration of follow-up was12 months. The baseline rate of progression was reduced from −0.8D/year (range −0.5D/year to −3D/year) to −0.1D/year (range 0D/year to −1.0D/year) after atropine therapy. Conclusion:Atropine eye drops was well tolerated and efficacious for the retardation of progressive myopia.