Myopia Control in Caucasian Children with 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops: 1-Year Follow-Up Study

Background and Objectives: Myopia is the most widespread ocular disorder globally and its prevalence has been increasing over the past decades. Atropine eye drops stand out as the only pharmacological intervention used in clinical practice to control myopia progression. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of 0.01% atropine eye drops on myopia progression. Patients and Methods: Healthy children aged 6-12 years with cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) from -0.5 D to -5.0 D and astigmatism ≤1.5 D were included. Myopia progression was assessed by changes in SE and axial length (AL) over 1 year and SE changes 1 year before the study enrollment and during the 1-year follow-up. Adverse events were evaluated based on complaints reported by either parents or the children themselves during follow-up visits. Results: The analysis involved 55 patients in the 0.01% atropine eye drops group and 66 in the control group. After the 1-year follow-up, the change in SE was -0.50 (-2.25-0.50) D in the control group compared to -0.50 (-1.50-0.50) D in the 0.01% atropine group (p = 0.935); AL change was 0.31 (0.18) mm in the control group and 0.29 (0.18) mm in the 0.01% atropine group (p = 0.480). The change in SE was -0.68 (-2.0--0.25) D/year before the study and remained similar -0.50 (-2.25-0.25) D over the 1-year follow-up in the control group (p = 0.111); SE change was reduced from -1.01 (-2.0--0.25) D/year before the study to -0.50 (-1.5-0.5) D over the 1-year follow-up in the 0.01% atropine group (p < 0.001). In the 0.01% atropine group, ten (16.4%) children experienced mild adverse events, including blurred near vision, ocular discomfort, photophobia, dry eyes, and anisocoria. Conclusions: Compared to the control group, the administration of 0.01% atropine eye drops demonstrated no significant effect on changes in SE and AL over a 1-year follow-up. However, children in the 0.01% atropine group initially experienced higher myopia progression, which decreased with treatment over the course of 1 year. Future studies should explore the long-term effects, rebound effects, potential genetic associations, and efficacy of higher doses of atropine in managing myopia progression.