Role of 0.01% atropine in high myopic children of Moradabad, India (RAMCOM Study)

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Low?concentration atropine is an emerging therapy for myopia progression, but its efficacy remains uncertain among high myopic children. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low?concentration atropine eye drop (0.01%) in high myopic children. Methods: A non?randomized, parallel?group, longitudinal interventional cohort study. Myopic children were divided into two groups (1) the intervention arm of children who received one drop of topical 0.01% atropine once a day at bedtime and (2) the control arm, in which enrolled children who were on observation only. Repeated measurements of spherical equivalent refractive errors (SERs) were performed at baseline and 1 and 2 years after treatment. Results: A total of 37 eyes were enrolled in the intervention arm (allocated to 0.01% atropine at year 1 follow?up) and 23 eyes in the control arm. After 1 year of 0.01% atropine therapy, the myopia progression was 0.15 ± 0.9 D in the intervention group versus 1.1 ± 1 D in the control group (P = 0.001). Similarly, after 2 years of treatment, the myopia progression was 0.3 ± 1.1 D in the intervention group versus 1.4 ± 1.1 D in the control group (P ? 0.001). Conclusion: Compared to no treatment, 0.01% atropine treatment had shown better effect on myopia progression in high myopic children