Further observations on use of atropine in the treatment of myopia

In order to further our observations on the effects of atropine eyedrops for the management of myopia, we conducted a retrospective study of seventy-nine (79) patients, followed over a ten-year period (1971 to 1980). The atropine sulfate drops were used daily in most cases, tapering the frequency in the later teenage years. In general, those children who showed a good initial response during their first year of treatment, continued to use them for several years. Bifocal or reading glasses were used and family acceptance was good. Those children who showed less favorable results in the first year or who had unconcerned parents, stopped the drops within a year or two and went back to glasses or later, contact lenses. The data support the fact that children with low refractive errors may well have "functional myopia," as opposed to the "axial myopia," that characterizes the higher levels of myopia. These low degree myopes are the best candidates for using atropine to reduce or diminish myopia changes.