Decrease of myopia progression with 0.025% atropine

Abstract Purpose: To demonstrate the efficacy of 0.025% atropine eyedrops in myopic children in Brazil for decreasing myopia progression Methods: This was a prospective study with 60 children from Hospital Geral Universitário and Oftalmocenter Santa Rosa in Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, aged between 6 to 12 years, with spherical equivalent refractive error of -1.00 to -6.00 diopters (D) and astigmatism of -1.00 D or smaller. They underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, corneal topography and optical biometry. Children were assigned into two groups: group 1 used 0.025% atropine drop, once-nightly dosing, and it was prescribed total refraction in anti-reflective coating lens; and group 2 was prescribed just total refraction. A new evaluation was conducted 2 years after that. Paired student’s t-test was used to compare refractions, axial length and keratometry which were measured in an initial exam and after a two-year follow-up. Results: Of the 60 children, the 30 in group 1 had an age mean and SD 8.21 +/- 1.72, and of the control group were 8.17 +/- 1.73 years. Fourteen (46,66%) and 16 (53,33%) were male, respectively. Myopic progression was significantly lower in group 1 (-0.43 +/- 0.19 D) than in group 2 (-1.24 +/- 0.37 D) and axial length increase was also significantly smaller in group 1(0.19 +/- 0.09 mm) than in group 2 (0.48 +/- 0.12 mm). There were no significant statistical differences regarding keratometry between groups. Conclusions: Low dose atropine eyedrops were effective in decreasing myopia progression in 65% of this population studied for 2 years. Furthermore, a larger scale randomized controlled study with longer follow-up seems warranted.