Premium
Efficacy of atropine 0.01% for the treatment of childhood myopia in European patients
Author(s) -
Sacchi Matteo,
Serafino Massimiliano,
Villani Edoardo,
Tagliabue Elena,
Luccarelli Saverio,
Bonsignore Francesco,
Nucci Paolo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.14166
Subject(s) - atropine , medicine , adverse effect , photophobia , medical record , anesthesia , ophthalmology , surgery
Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atropine 0.01% in slowing myopia progression in European paediatric patients. Methods Retrospective, medical records review study. Medical charts of paediatric patients with a myopia progression > 0.5 D/year treated with atropine 0.01% for at least 1 year were included. Patients receive a complete ophthalmic examination before and 12 months after initiation of atropine treatment. A group of myopic untreated children serves as a control group. The rate of myopia progression at baseline and 12 months after treatment with atropine was evaluated. The rate of myopia progression in treated and untreated patients was also compared. Adverse events were recorded. Results Medical records of 52 treated and 50 control subjects were analysed. In the atropine group, the mean rate of myopia progression after 12 months of treatment (−0.54 ± 0.61 D) was significantly slower compared with the baseline progression (−1.20 ± 0.64 D; p < 0.0001) and to the progression in the control group (−1.09 ± 0.64; p < 0.0001). The responders patients were 41/52 (79%), whereas 11/52 patients (21%) showed a progression > 0.50 D despite treatment. The only adverse event was temporary photophobia in five patients (9.6%), severe adverse events were not reported, and none of the patients discontinued the treatment. Conclusion Low‐dose atropine significantly slowed the rate of myopia progression in European paediatric patients with a favourable safety profile.