Clinical efficacy of 0.01% atropine in retarding the progression of myopia in children

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of 0.01% atropine in slowing the progression of myopia in children and to evaluate the influence of 0.01% atropine on secretion of basal tear and stability of tear film. METHODS: Eighty children aged 5–14 years with myopia, 40 were randomly divided into two groups consisting of those who received spectacles in addition to 0.01% atropine (SA group) and those who received only spectacles (S group). The remaining 40 children who were wearing orthokeratology (OK) lenses for 3 months were randomly divided into two groups comprising those who received OK lenses in addition to 0.01% atropine (OKA group) and those who received only OK lenses (OK group). Comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations, including slit-lamp examination, visual acuity testing, autorefraction, intraocular pressure, axial length (AL), corneal topography, Schirmer’s test, and tear film break-up time (TBuT), were performed before treatment and after every 3 months treatment. RESULTS: During the follow-up visits, evidently better spherical equivalent (SE) control over 3, 6 and 12 months was observed in the SA and OKA groups compared with the S and OK groups. The AL over 3, 6, and 12 months was evidently inhibited in the SA and OKA groups compared with the S and OK groups. No statistically significant differences in Schirmer’s test and TBuT results were observed between the S and SA groups and between the OK and OKA groups. However, statistically significant differences were found in TBuT results between before treatment and after 3 months treatment in the OK group (P < 0.05, paired t test) and the OKA group (P < 0.05, paired t test). CONCLUSIONS: 0.01% atropine can effectively control myopia progression and axial elongation regardless of combined treatment with spectacles or OK lenses. And 0.01% atropine has no evident effect on Schirmer’s test and TBuT results; however, researchers also found that Schirmer’s test and TBuT results showed a tendency to reduce after treatment with 0.01% atropine.