Low-Concentration Atropine Differential Effects on Ocular Biometrics (Clinical Pilot Study)
Abstract
Atropine low concentration is an evolving treatment for myopia progression, but its effectiveness and optimum concentration remain unclear. The current study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and protection of low-concentration atropine for one year with different doses, and a placebo was used as a control. For this purpose, a double-blind single-centered clinical trial consisting of 132 children (subjects), aged (5-13) years with myopic refraction of at least -1.0 D in both eyes, astigmatism of less than -2.5 D and confirmed myopic development of at least 0.5 D for 1 year were performed. The participants in this trial were allocated randomly with a 1:1 ratio in 6 levels identified by genders and age groups, and categorized into 5 to 7 years, 8 to 10 years, and 11 to 13 years, so that gender and age could be equilibrated between 4 atropine levels, i.e., 0.05%, 0.025 %, or 0.01 and placebo. The demographic factors like baseline near work, outdoor time, basic refractive error, lodging, pupil diameter, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded. Furthermore, the best corrected visual acuity was determined after two weeks, 4, 8, and 12 months. A concentration-dependent myopia control response was observed at all atropine levels. During the first year, 69.6%, 51.6%, and 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01%, respectively, of subjects with atropine groups increased by less than 0.5%, compared to 24.2% in the placebo group;15.2%, 12.6% and 27.8%, respectively. In all classes, both near and distant BCVA were not significantly affected. Every group's visual acuity and vision-related quality of life were unaffected. The study showed that atropine eye drops of 0.05 (%), 0.025 (%), and 0.01 (%) decreased myopia progression in a concentration-dependent manner. Both concentrations were well tolerated and had no negative impact on visual quality of life.
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