The effect of atropine on myopia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric medicine

Background:

• Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing concern in children.
• Effective long-term myopia control strategies are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term efficacy of atropine eye drops in controlling myopia progression in children.

Main Methods:

• A crossover study involving 62 children treated with atropine in one eye for one year, followed by a switch.
• A subset of 28 patients continued treatment for four years.

Main Results:

• Control eyes exhibited significant increases in myopia compared to atropine-treated eyes.
• Some treated eyes demonstrated a decrease in myopia, while control eyes did not.
• Posttreatment analysis confirmed sustained therapeutic effects.

Conclusions:

• Atropine eye drops are an effective long-term treatment for reducing myopia progression in pediatric patients.
• The observed benefits of atropine treatment for myopia control are durable.