Efficacy of Atropine Eye Drops for Suppressing Myopia Progression in Thai Children

Authors

  • Thammanoon Surachatkumtonekul
  • Pinpilai Jutasompakorn Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
  • Sirawadee Wiriyaudomchart Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
  • Kiatthida Hokierti Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
  • Jureeporn Sri-in Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33192/smj.v75i11.264383

Keywords:

Myopia, Atropine Eye Drops

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose atropine eye drops in retarding myopic progression among school-age children at Siriraj hospital.

Materials and Methods: The medical records of 248 myopia-diagnosed patients were reviewed. All patients were received low-dose atropine eye drops and had at least one follow-up visit within 1 year after the treatment initiation. Spherical equivalent (SE) measurements were collected at pre- and post-treatment visits, as well as any reported side effects. Comparing the SE changes observed between the pre- and post-treatment periods, as well as between the two different concentrations of atropine was analyzed.

Results: A total of 495 eyes were analyzed, with 461 eyes receiving 0.01% atropine eye drops and 32 eyes being administered 0.05%. The demographic data between two groups showed no significant difference. The comparison of SE change one year prior to and one year after treatment in the 0.01% and 0.05% group yielded a p-value of less than 0.001 and 0.003, respectively, (SE change are -0.38 (-0.75-0.00) and -0.25 (-0.72-(-0.25)) in the 0.01% and 0.05% group, respectively). However, the between-group comparison of SE change at 6 months and 1 year showed no significant difference. Regarding side effects, one-third of the eyes in the 0.05% group (37.5%) experienced adverse effects while only eight eyes (1.7%) in the 0.01% group reported side effects.

Conclusion: This research contributes support to the effectiveness of employing low-dose atropine for the treatment of myopia in Thai children. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that the use of 0.05% atropine was associated with a higher incidence of side effects.

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Efficacy of Atropine Eye Drops for Suppressing Myopia Progression in Thai Children

Published

01-11-2023

How to Cite

Surachatkumtonekul, T. ., Jutasompakorn, P. ., Wiriyaudomchart, S., Hokierti, K. ., & Sri-in, J. . (2023). Efficacy of Atropine Eye Drops for Suppressing Myopia Progression in Thai Children. Siriraj Medical Journal, 75(11), 794–799. https://doi.org/10.33192/smj.v75i11.264383

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