Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Inducement and Evaluation of a Murine Model of Experimental Myopia
07:20

Inducement and Evaluation of a Murine Model of Experimental Myopia

Published on: January 22, 2019

Low-Concentration Atropine (0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%) for Myopia Progression in Children: A Systematic Review and

Qi Wan1, Qiong Wang1, Ran Wei1

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610044, China.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|July 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Low-concentration atropine eye drops effectively control myopia progression in children, with higher concentrations showing greater efficacy. All tested doses (0.01%-0.05%) are safe, but 0.01% offers a good balance of effectiveness and tolerability.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Clinical Trials
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Myopia is a global epidemic, projected to affect 50% of the world population by 2050.
  • Low-concentration atropine eye drops (0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%) are a primary intervention for myopia control.
  • Existing meta-analyses lack recent trial data and separate analyses for premyopia prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy and safety of low-concentration atropine for myopia progression control.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of these concentrations for premyopia prevention.
  • To analyze outcomes based on atropine concentration, follow-up duration, and population.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  • Searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL up to April 2026.
  • Included RCTs comparing low-concentration atropine (0.01%-0.05%) with placebo in children; meta-analysis used random-effects models.

Main Results:

  • Eight RCTs (n=1756) were included. 0.01% atropine showed significant efficacy for myopia progression at 1 and 2 years.
  • The 0.05% concentration demonstrated the largest effect on myopia progression.
  • All concentrations exhibited an excellent safety profile with no serious adverse events; premyopia prevention data showed high heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

  • Low-concentration atropine is effective for myopia progression control, with a dose-dependent effect (0.05% > 0.025% > 0.01%).
  • The 0.01% concentration provides a favorable balance between efficacy and tolerability.
  • Further research is needed to validate 0.05% efficacy and conduct well-designed RCTs for premyopia prevention.

Keywords:
atropinechildrenmeta-analysismyopiarandomized controlled trial

Related Concept Videos

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment01:27

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment

In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems01:23

Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems

Ophthalmic drug delivery faces major limitations due to poor absorption across the corneal membrane. This process is primarily driven by diffusion and is influenced by two main factors: the physicochemical properties of the drug and tear drainage. Most ophthalmic drugs, such as pilocarpine, epinephrine, atropine, and local anesthetics, are weak bases. They are typically formulated at an acidic pH to enhance chemical stability. However, this leads to high ionization, reducing their ability to...
Focusing of Light in the Eye01:16

Focusing of Light in the Eye

Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacokinetics01:24

Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacokinetics

Cholinergic antagonists—such as antimuscarinics—are available in oral, topical, ocular, parenteral, and inhalational formulations. Most antimuscarinics are oral formulations,  while scopolamine is available as a topical patch, and ipratropium and tiotropium are available as inhalation aerosols or powders. Atropine, tropicamide, and cyclopentolate are topically instilled in the eye. Most antimuscarinics are lipid-soluble and readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and the conjunctiva.
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment01:28

Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment

Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses01:11

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists have many therapeutic uses in various medical fields. Choline esters, including acetylcholine, have limited clinical utility due to their non-selectivity and short duration of action. Still, acetylcholine and carbachol are applied topically during ophthalmologic surgery to induce miosis. Pilocarpine, a muscarinic and ganglionic stimulator, effectively treats open-angle glaucoma and alleviates xerostomia and dry mouth caused by radiotherapy or Sjögren syndrome.