Low-concentration atropine eye drops for controlling myopia progression: one-year prospective study results

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of 0.01% and 0.03% atropine eye drops on myopia progression. Methods: Healthy children aged 6-12 years with cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) between -0.75D and -5.0D and astigmatism ≤1.5D were included. They were assigned to the control or atropine groups, with the option to use 0.01% or 0.03% atropine eye drops once in the evening for 1-year. Cycloplegic SE and ocular axial length (AL) were measured at the baseline and after 1-year follow-up. Myopia progression was evaluated by changes in SE and AL over 1-year, analysing measurement of the right eye only. Results: 69 children were in the control group, 62 children in the 0.01% and 33 in the 0.03% atropine groups. No statistically significant differences were observed in age (p=0.893) or gender distribution (p=0.332) between groups. Baseline SE and AL parameters were not statistically different between the groups as well (p>0.05). In terms of change in SE over 1-year, a significant difference was observed between the 0.03% and 0.01% atropine groups (p=0.008) as well as between the 0.03% atropine eye drops and control groups (p=0.040). Median SE changes were as follows: -0.25 (-1.0 – 0.63)D, -0.50 (-1.50 – 0.50)D and -0.50 (-2.25 – 0.50)D in the 0.03%, 0.01% atropine eye drops and control groups, respectively. Statistically significant difference in AL change was also found between 0.03% and 0.01% atropine eye drops groups (p=0.021) and between the 0.03% atropine and control groups (p=0.008). Mean AL changes were: 0.18 (0.14) mm, 0.30 (0.18) mm and 0.31 (0.21) mm in the 0.03%, 0.01% atropine eye drops and control groups, respectively. Conclusion: The 0.03% atropine eye drops effectively controlled myopia progression during 1-year, showing superiority compared to 0.01% atropine eye drops in reducing changes in SE and AL.