Atropine is an Option for Myopia Control in Winnipeg

Myopia is increasing worldwide and that includes Winnipeg.   There are options to slow down the progression of myopia in children that the optometrists at Waverley Eye Care Centre have available.

Durein a paediatric (or children’s) eye exam our Winnipeg eye doctors will sometime diagnose myopia.   The first step in dealing with myopia is using eye glasses or contact lenses to help the child see clearer in the distance.   The second step is exploring options to slow down the progression of myopia.   One option that is used by our Winnipeg optometrists is atropine eye drops.   The ATOM 2 study is an important study that shows the effectiveness and safety of atropine eye drops in children.   In this video, Winnipeg optometrist, Dr. Michael Nelson, explains the ATOM 2 study.

This is a summary of the ATOM 2 myopia study:

Atropine for the treatment of childhood myopia and myopia control. This study is one of the important studies that established what dose of Atropine is an effective treatment for myopia control in order to slow the progression of myopia in children.

Link to Journal articles ATOM1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16996612/

ATOM2: Phase 1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21963266/

ATOM2: Phase 2: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24315293/

ATOM2; Phase 3: https://www.aao.org/assets/28fe020e-5f93-4d06-aac1-889cecb15fb2/635835505202800000/atropine-for-myopia-5-yr-clinical-trial-ophthalmology-2015-pdf?inline=1

CLINICAL PEARLS:

1. 0.01% Atropine has little effect on pupils and accomodation.

2. Lower dosages (0.5%, 0.1%, 0.01%) atropine are almost as effective at 1% in reducing myopia progression

3. 0.01% atropine is effective in myopia control

4. 0.01% atropine has less myopic rebound than higher doses

5. 0.01% atropine is the most effective in myopia progression in the long term