Low-dose Atropine eye drops are a highly effective and non-invasive treatment method to slow the progression of myopia in children. Atropine is considered the most effective medication that has been consistently effective in slowing axial elongation with minimal side effects.
Atropine is considered a antimuscarinic class of medication, meaning it inhibits the parasympathetic nervous system, and one major role they play is to relax smooth muscle. Medications in this class are used for things such as motion sickness, over active bladder, asthma, etc. Atropine, when it pertains to the eye, is believed to target multiple parts of the eye to both relax the focusing muscle of the eye (accommodation of the eye) and help to prevent remodeling of the sclera to prevent axial elongation that occurs in myopia progression.
Atropine eye drops are specialty made drops by a compounding pharmacy as they have to be diluted down to a low-dose version. The low-dose is how this drop can be effective for myopia therapy without causing more side effects such as a large dilated pupil, blurry vision and light sensitivity. Although you can have some of these side effects with the lose-dose concentration, it is typically minimal and not bothersome enough to stop therapy.
Atropine eye drops are applied to the each eye, once before bedtime. The effects can last between 24-48 hours and treatment is typically designed to last for 1-5 years. Atropine can be used as first line therapy for myopia management but is also used in conjunction with other myopia therapies if additional treatment is needed.
Patient will complete an initial comprehensive exam to begin myopia therapy and then monitored at 6 months to ensure proper myopia management. Please call our office to find out more information regarding pricing and myopia management.