Effectiveness 0.05% Atropine for Controlling Myopia Progression in School Going Children

Abstract

Purpose: Although there is evidence that Atropine is effective in improving myopia but there is variable response with use of 0.05% concentration. We conducted this study to find mean change in myopia progression after giving 0.05% Atropine to school going children with myopia. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Unit-II, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from 3rdNovember 2020 to 3rd February 2021. Methods: One hundred children of 5 to 14 years of age with myopia greater than 0.5 D were selected by consecutive sampling. Patients with other refractive errors, other ocular diseases or ocular surgeries were excluded. Cycloplegic retinoscopy was performed and 0.05% atropine eye drops were advised once at night for 3 months. Cycloplegic retinoscope was performed and change in myopia progression (mean myopia progression rate) was calculated. Paired T-test was applied to calculate significant change in myopia. P-value ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Data was stratified for age, gender and duration of myopia. Results: Mean age of children was 9.26 ± 2.87 years. There were 40% males and Male-to-female ratio was 1:1.5. Mean duration of myopia was 13.81 ± 6.04 months. Mean myopia at baseline was-1.02 ± 0.30D, which was improved to-0.18 ± 0.44 D after treatment. Mean change in myopia after treatment was-0.84 ± 0.30 D. The change was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Atropine 0.05% is effective in reducing degrees of myopia and may help in preventing myopia progression in school going children.