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Therapeutic effect of atropine 1% in children with low myopia
Shu Yi1, Yuanshuai Huang2, Shi-Zhi Yu1
1The Third People's Hospital of Chongqing City, China.
Insights
Topical atropine 1% eye drops effectively improved vision and reduced myopia progression in Chinese children. This treatment also significantly slowed axial eye elongation over one year.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Myopia is a growing public health concern in children.
- Low myopia requires effective interventions to prevent progression and visual impairment.
- Axial elongation is a key factor in myopia progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess topical atropine 1% efficacy in Chinese children with low myopia.
- To evaluate its impact on unaided visual acuity.
- To determine its effect on myopia reduction and axial elongation.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 132 children aged 7-12 years.
- Treatment group received atropine 1% nightly; control group received placebo.
- Measurements included visual acuity, refraction, and axial length over 1 year.
Main Results:
- Atropine 1% significantly improved unaided visual acuity (0.31 vs 0.66 logMAR).
- Treatment reduced myopia by 0.32 D, while placebo increased it by -0.85 D.
- Axial elongation was significantly reduced with atropine (-0.03 mm vs 0.32 mm).
Conclusions:
- Topical atropine 1% is effective in managing low myopia in children.
- It successfully reduces myopia and slows ocular axial elongation.
- This intervention offers a promising approach for myopia control in pediatric populations.
Purpose:
To evaluate the efficacy of topical atropine 1% in promoting unaided visual acuity, reducing myopia, and slowing the progression of ocular axial elongation in Chinese children with low myopia.
Methods:
Children with low myopia were randomly assigned to one of two groups, receiving either atropine 1% (treatment group) or placebo eyedrops (control group) once nightly for 1 year. After instillation of 3 drops of cyclopentolate 1%, unaided visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction, and ocular axial length were tested and recorded at baseline (2 weeks after atropine or vehicle eyedrops), 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.
Results:
A total of 132 children 7-12 years of age with a refractive error of spherical equivalent -0.50 D to -2.00 were included. After 1 year, the mean unaided visual acuity in the treatment group was 0.31 ± 0.16 logMAR; in the control group, 0.66 ± 0.15 logMAR, (P < 0.0001). After treatment for 1 year, there was a decrease of 0.32 ± 0.22 D from baseline in the treatment group and an increase of -0.85 ± 0.31 D in the control group (P < 0.0001). The axial elongation in the treatment group was -0.03 ± 0.07 mm; in the control group, 0.32 ± 0.15 mm (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
In this study cohort, topical atropine1% reduced the degree of low myopia and slowed the progression of ocular axial elongation in children.
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