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A Three-Year Study of Atropine Treatment in European Children

Thao Ha, MD

Hai Yen Vision Institute
BHVI Collaborating Scientist

Myopia significantly impacts human health and the economy, with a greater burden resulting from higher levels of myopia. Currently, a variety of environmental, optical, and pharmaceutical interventions are being investigated for their role in slowing myopia progression. Of the various interventions tested so far, high-dose atropine appears to have the greatest efficacy in slowing axial elongation. However, its various and significant side effects such as photophobia, loss of accommodation, and rebound upon cessation are of concern in clinical practice. Furthermore, clinical trials with atropine were mostly conducted on Asian populations, raising the question of whether it is equally effective in non-Asian such as Caucasian populations.

In 2020, Polling and co-authors reported results from a three-year prospective clinic-based study in the Netherlands wherein 124 children, 5 to 16 years of age with either progression (spherical equivalent [SE]) of ≥ 1.00D/year, or SE ≤ -2.50D at 10 years and younger, or SE worse than -5.00D at 11 years old and above received 0.5% atropine. The primary outcomes were the annual progression of SE and axial length (AL). The annual reduction rate of SE was defined as the reduction in SE compared to that prior to treatment. After a minimum of one year of intervention, in children with a good/high response (SE < -0.50D/year and AL < 0.2 mm/year), atropine concentration was tapered to 0.25%, and then further to 0.1% and 0.01% every six months, while in children with an insufficient/low response (SE ≥ −1.00D/year, and AL  ≥ 0.3 mm/year), atropine concentration was raised to 1%.

In the 89 children who completed three years of treatment, the median annual change in SE and AL was -0.25D (IQR: 0.44) / 0.11mm (IQR: 0.18). The annual reduction rate of SE was 100% in the first year, 65% in the second year, and 68.2% in the third year, whereas the annual changes in AL were 0.04 mm, 0.16 mm, and 0.14 mm, respectively. Regarding dose adjustment, 31/89 (34.8%) children continued with 0.5% atropine, 32/89 (36%) children were switched to 1% atropine, and 26/89 (29.2%) children were switched to a lower dose.

Interestingly, atropine prevented eye growth in children older than 10 years better than those younger than 10 years, and switching to 1% atropine did not slow myopia significantly more than 0.5% atropine. Similarly, tapering of concentration to a lower one did not reduce the effectiveness in children with a high response to 0.5% atropine and did not lead to a rebound of AL growth.

Despite the study lacking a control group, the study confirms the efficacy of high-dose atropine in controlling myopia in a European population. The authors suggest photochromic progressive spectacles and a cap on outdoor activity to negate the severity of side effects. Also, tapering the dose appeared to be an efficient strategy to reduce the risk of the rebound response.

A three-year follow-up study of atropine treatment for progressive myopia
in Europeans

Jan Roelof Polling, Emily Tan , Sjoerd Driessen, Sjoukje E Loudon, Hoi-Lam Wong, Astrid van der Schans, J Willem L Tideman, Caroline C W Klaver

DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-1122-7

Abstract

Background: Atropine is the most powerful treatment for progressive myopia in childhood. This study explores the three-year effectiveness of atropine in a clinical setting.

Methods: In this prospective clinical effectiveness study, children with progressive myopia ≥ 1D/year or myopia ≤ -2.5D were prescribed atropine 0.5%. Examination, including cycloplegic refraction and axial length (AL), was performed at baseline, and follow-up. Outcome measures were spherical equivalent (SER) and AL; annual progression of SER on treatment was compared with that prior to treatment. Adjustments to the dose were made after 1 year in case of low (AL ≥ 0.3 mm/year) or high response (AL < 0.1 mm/year) of AL.

Results: A total of 124 patients were enrolled in the study (median age: 9.5, range: 5-16 years). At baseline, median SER was -5.03D (interquartile range (IQR): 3.08); median AL was 25.14 mm (IQR: 1.30). N = 89 (71.8%) children were persistent to therapy throughout the 3-year follow-up. Median annual progression of SER for these children was -0.25D (IQR: 0.44); of AL 0.11 mm (IQR: 0.18). Of these, N = 32 (36.0%) had insufficient response and were assigned to atropine 1%; N = 26 (29.2%) showed good response and underwent tapering in dose. Rebound of AL progression was not observed. Of the children who ceased therapy, N = 9 were lost to follow-up; N = 9 developed an allergic reaction; and N = 17 (19.1%) stopped due to adverse events.

Conclusion: In children with or at risk of developing high myopia, a starting dose of atropine 0.5% was associated with decreased progression in European children during a 3-year treatment regimen. Our study supports high-dose atropine as a treatment option for children at risk of developing high myopia in adulthood

Polling, J.R., Tan, E., Driessen, S. et al. (2020) A 3-year follow-up study of atropine treatment for progressive myopia in Europeans. Eye 342020–2028.

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