Efficacy and safety of 0.01% atropine for prevention of childhood myopia in a 2-year randomized placebo-controlled study.

PURPOSE

Atropine eye drops prevent the progression of myopia, but their use has not been tested in the Japanese schoolchildren population. Here, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of 0.01% atropine eye drops for myopia control in Japanese children.

STUDY DESIGN

Multicenter (7 university hospitals), randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial.

METHODS

Participants were 171 Japanese schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years, with progressive myopia, spherical equivalence (SE) of -1.00 to -6.00 diopters (D), and astigmatism of ≤1.5 D. They were randomized to receive either 0.01% atropine (n=85) or placebo (n=86) eye drops once nightly OU for 24 months. Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were changes in SE and axial length (AL), respectively, from baseline to month 24.

RESULTS

Data from 168 subjects were analyzed. At month 24, compliance was similar in both groups (atropine: 83.3%; placebo: 85.7%). The least squares mean change in SE and AL from baseline were, respectively, -1.26 D (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.35, -1.17) and 0.63 mm (0.59, 0.67) for atropine and -1.48 D (- 1.57, -1.39) and 0.77 mm (0.73, 0.81) for placebo. Inter-group differences were 0.22 D (95% CI: 0.09, 0.35; P < 0.001) for SE and - 0.14 mm (-0.20, -0.08; P < 0.001) for AL. Three patients experienced mild allergic conjunctivitis side effects, with no inter-group difference in incidence (atropine: 2.4%; 2/84 patients; placebo: 1.4%; 1/84 patients).

CONCLUSION

With good compliance, 0.01% atropine is effective and safe for preventing the progression of childhood myopia.