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Published on: January 22, 2019
Short-term effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression in children
Shi-Yin Pan1,2,3, Yang-Zheng Wang2,3, Jun Li2,3
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Pronvince, China.
Insights
Low-dose atropine eye gel (0.01% atropine sulphate) effectively slowed myopia progression and axial elongation in children over a 6-month period. This treatment demonstrated a significant reduction in refractive error and eye growth without adverse events.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing public health concern in children.
- Axial elongation is a key factor in myopia progression and increases the risk of associated ocular pathologies.
- Effective interventions to slow myopia progression in pediatric populations are crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel in inhibiting myopia progression.
- To assess the impact of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on axial elongation in children.
- To determine the safety and tolerability of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel over a 6-month treatment period.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 185 children aged 6-12 years with myopia.
- The treatment group (n=125) received daily 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel, while the control group (n=60) received no intervention.
- Spherical equivalent and axial length were measured at baseline and after 6 months to evaluate changes.
Main Results:
- The atropine group showed a significantly lower rate of myopia progression (55.0% reduction) and axial elongation (26.9% reduction) compared to the control group.
- A higher percentage of eyes in the atropine group experienced less than 0.50 D progression (84.4%) and remained stable (38.4%) versus the control group.
- No adverse events were reported during the 6-month study period.
Conclusions:
- 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel is an effective treatment for slowing myopia progression in children.
- The study demonstrates a significant reduction in axial elongation with the use of low-dose atropine eye gel.
- The treatment is safe and well-tolerated, offering a promising option for myopia management in pediatric patients.
Aim:
To investigate the effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression and axial elongation in a 6-month treatment in children.
Methods:
Totally 185 children aged 6-12y with binocular myopia of 3.0 D or less in both eyes were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The atropine group (n=125) received one drop of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel in each eye before bedtime daily. The control group included 60 matched children without drug intervention during the same period. The spherical equivalent and axial length was recorded at baseline and the sixth month of treatment. The efficacy was evaluated by the change of the spherical equivalent and axial length. Adverse events were also recorded.
Results:
The average spherical equivalent and axial length at baseline were not statistically significant between the atropine group (-1.64±0.80 D, 24.13±0.76 mm) and the control group (-1.59±0.94 D, 24.06±0.77 mm, P>0.05). After 6mo, there was significantly difference in the spherical equivalent progression between the atropine and the control group (-0.27±0.33 vs -0.60±0.35 D, P<0.001), with a relative reduction of 55.0% in myopia progression. The increase in axial elongation in the atropine group was significantly less than control group (0.19±0.14 vs 0.26±0.14 mm, P<0.001), with a relative reduction of 26.9% in axial length. The 84.4% and 38.4% of the eyes progressed by less than 0.50 D and remained stable in the atropine group, compared with 51.7% and 4.2% in the control group. No adverse events were observed.
Conclusion:
Atropine sulphate eye gel 0.01% can slow down myopia progression and axial elongation in children with a 6-month treatment.
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