Purpose: Because highmyopia causes severe visual impairment, it is important to prevent the progression of myopia. Recently, the prevention of myopia progression by low dose atropine was reported from Singapore. We started the study of low dose atropine in Japanese children, with the aim of investigating the side effects of low dose atropine.
Subject and methods: The participants were 16 children between the age of 6 and 12. They receive 0.01% atropine once nightly in both eyes. Refractive error, distant vision, near vision, accommodation and pupil diameter were checked before (baseline) and two weeks after the treatment (second baseline). Also, we checked subjective symptoms and adverse events.
Results: There was no significant change between baseline and second baseline in the refractive error, distant vision, near vision. Accommodation decreased mean 1.5 D (p<0.01) and the pupil diameter was mean 0.7 mm larger (p<0.0001), but the subjective symptoms were minimal. Accommodation and pupil diameter showed significant changes. Severe subjective symptoms and adverse events were not found in any of the cases.
Conclusion: The side effects of low dose atropine were not severe. The treatment could be continued for the prevention of myopia.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 119: 812-816, 2015.