Atropine 0.01% to slow the progression of Myopia
Low-concentration Atropine drops (0.01%) are safe and effective in myopia control
Atropine 0.01% is the most effective medication that has been demonstrated to be consistently effective in slowing myopia progression.
Safe Concentration of Atropine for Myopia Control
Atropine 1% is having more effective control but photophobia is more common with that concentration. Atropine 0.01% is equally effective and safe for slowing the progression of Myopia in Children.
Research about Atropine 0.01%
Researchers in the ATOM2 study of 2012 (Chia et al.) evaluated myopia progression in 400 children who received 0.5%, 0.1% or 0.01% of atropine. Overall myopia progression during 3 years of treatment was slowest in the 0.01% group, with fewer side effects compared with higher concentrations.
How does Atropine 0.01% works in myopia?
Atropine 0.01% causes a slowdown or completely stops the division of scleral fibroblasts (cells which makes the white of an eye, the division of which leads to the growth of the eye, and as a result to the development of myopia).
Remember that this drops does not reverse MYOPIA you already HAVE, It just slows down progression of myopia which you are going to get.
Care of Myopia at Sadbhaav Eye & Dental Clinic
At Sadbhaav Clinic, we provide all our Myopia Patients information about the concept of Preventative Medicine – which takes care of myopia, which in turn reduces risk of other serious ocular conditions such as myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment and glaucoma where the vision loss is significant.
What Care should be taken?
Low dose Atropine drops (0.01%) is a new treatment for myopia control. The commercially available concentration of 1.0% can cause blurred near vision, pupil dilation and significant light sensitivity, and that there are also potential systemic side effects. However recent research has shown that Atropine at lower concentrations has a better safety and tolerance profile.
Please check the concentration of your eyedrop that it should be 0.01% atropine otherwise you will get blurring of vision and photophobia.
These drops can affect a child’s accommodation and pupil size upon instillation, and that they may sting. That's why it is recommended to put this medication before bed as when the child wakes up these side effects will have subsided.
How long this drops need to be continued?
This drops should be continued till the growth of eyes stop i.e. upto 20-21 years of age. So whatever age they are started, you have to continue this till you are 20-21 years old.
They are recommended in all children with myopia with 6 to 20 years of age.
These all details in just for basic information about the diseases. Please consult your doctor before following this by yourself. --- Dr Dhaval Patel (MD, AIIMS Delhi)