Myopia Control With Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine eye drops is currently the most effective treatment for myopia control in children. It is aimed at slowing down the pace at which the myopia is increasing but does not reverse existing myopia.

Treatment is only effective in children and treatment should be started early for maximum benefit. High myopia in adults cannot be reversed with atropine eye drops.

There are more reasons for myopia control than simply the avoidance of thick, heavy glasses. Highly myopic eyes are structurally abnormal, and are more likely to develop serious eye problems like retinal tears, retinal detachments and early macular degeneration (myopic degeneration) which can result in blindness. They are also more likely to develop glaucoma, early cataracts and floaters.

Severe myopic degeneration can result in serious and permanent visual loss.

Atropine eye drops have been used for myopia control in Singapore for many years. They have been proven to be effective in the short-term, but traditional doses of atropine have side-effects. Atropine temporarily paralyzes the auto-focusing mechanism in the eye and enlarges (dilates) the pupil. This results in increased sensitivity to light and blurred near vision. These side effects may last up to weeks. To counter these side effects, a school-going child would require anti-glare and reading glasses to be able to read clearly. In addition, repeated use of the eye drops can cause eye irritation and allergies.

A recent study has found that low dose atropine treatment (atropine 0.01%) is as effective as the higher doses previously used, but without the usual side effects. In addition, children who used atropine 0.01% had less “rebound” myopia after stopping treatment than those who used higher doses.

Consult our eye specialist to provide you with the professional advice for the most effective treatment for your child.