Atropine treatment

Summary In the last years, there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of high myopia in younger generations in developed countries in East and Southeast Asia, and there are signs of similar, but less pronounced increases in North America and Europe. In some parts of the world, 70–90% of children completing high schools are now myopic, and as many as 20% may be highly myopic. Topical Atropine have been quite extensively used in clinical practice in Asian countries, and recent reports suggest that low concentrated atropine, which has less severe side‐effects, is also effective. The beginning of an invasive treatment such as atropine drops, even at low doses, requires careful consideration of the risk of myopic progression. The current literature relevant to the prevention of myopic progression with atropine drops is reviewed.