EFFICACY OF LOW-DOSE ATROPINE TREATMENT IN CONTROLLING MYOPIA PROGRESSION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n56-032Keywords:
Myopia, Atropine, Myopia Control, Disease ProgressionAbstract
Introduction: Myopia is a major and growing public health concern worldwide, particularly among children and adolescents, due to its increasing prevalence and association with sight-threatening complications later in life.
Objective: The main objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose atropine in controlling myopia progression, with secondary objectives including assessment of dose–response effects, safety profiles, rebound phenomena after treatment cessation, and consistency of outcomes across different populations.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LILACS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ICTRP, applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and synthesizing data qualitatively with consideration of risk of bias and certainty of evidence.
Results and Discussion: A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria, consistently demonstrating that low-dose atropine significantly reduced myopia progression compared with controls, with lower doses showing favorable safety and tolerability profiles and minimal impact on accommodation and pupil size.
Conclusion: Low-dose atropine is an effective and generally safe intervention for slowing myopia progression, supporting its incorporation into evidence-based clinical strategies for myopia control.
Downloads
References
1. Ang, M., Flitcroft, D. I., Wong, C. W., et al. (2023). IMI clinical management guidelines report. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 64(2), Article 3.
2. Brennan, N. A., Toubouti, Y. M., Cheng, X., & Bullimore, M. A. (2021). Efficacy of atropine for myopia control: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Optometry and Vision Science, 98(5), 413–423.
3. Bullimore, M. A., & Brennan, N. A. (2022). Myopia control: Why each diopter matters. Optometry and Vision Science, 99(2), 111–115.
4. Chamberlain, P., Peixoto-de-Matos, S. C., Logan, N. S., et al. (2022). A 3-year randomized clinical trial of myopia control with atropine. Ophthalmology, 129(9), 1027–1038.
5. Chia, A., Lu, Q. S., & Tan, D. (2021). Five-year clinical trial on atropine for the treatment of myopia. Ophthalmology, 128(2), 308–317.
6. Flitcroft, D. I., He, M., Jonas, J. B., et al. (2021). IMI–defining and classifying myopia: A proposed set of standards. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 62(5), Article 3.
7. Holden, B. A., Fricke, T. R., Wilson, D. A., et al. (2016). Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology, 123(5), 1036–1042.
8. Huang, J., Wen, D., Wang, Q., et al. (2022). Efficacy comparison of 16 interventions for myopia control in children: A network meta-analysis. Ophthalmology, 129(3), 322–333.
9. Jonas, J. B., Ang, M., Cho, P., et al. (2021). IMI prevention of myopia and its progression. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 62(5), Article 6.
10. Kinoshita, N., Konno, Y., Hamada, N., et al. (2023). Efficacy of 0.01% atropine in Japanese children with myopia. Scientific Reports, 13(1), Article 2154.
11. Li, F. F., & Yam, J. C. (2022). Low-dose atropine eye drops for myopia progression. Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, 11(2), 117–123.
12. Li, S. M., Kang, M. T., Wu, S. S., et al. (2023). Atropine slows myopia progression more in children with higher baseline progression rates. Ophthalmology, 130(4), 420–428.
13. Morgan, I. G., Ohno-Matsui, K., & Saw, S. M. (2012). Myopia. The Lancet, 379(9827), 1739–1748.
14. Polling, J. R., Kok, R. G. W., Tideman, J. W. L., et al. (2021). Effectiveness study of atropine for progressive myopia in a real-world clinical setting. Ophthalmology, 128(9), 1313–1321.
15. Sacchi, M., Serafino, M., Villani, E., et al. (2021). Efficacy of low-dose atropine for myopia control in European children. Acta Ophthalmologica, 99(2), e245–e252.
16. Saw, S. M., Matsumura, S., & Hoang, Q. V. (2023). Prevention and management of myopia and myopic pathology. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 64(3), Article 15.
17. Shih, K. C., Chan, T. C. Y., Ng, A. L. K., et al. (2022). Use of atropine for prevention of childhood myopia progression in clinical practice. Eye, 36(5), 918–925.
18. Tideman, J. W. L., Polling, J. R., Vingerling, J. R., et al. (2023). Axial length growth and myopia progression in children treated with atropine. Ophthalmology, 130(9), 957–966.
19. Wan, L., Wei, C. C., Chen, C. S., et al. (2023). Long-term efficacy and safety of low-dose atropine for myopia control. Eye, 37(8), 1605–1612.
20. Wen, D., Huang, J., Chen, H., et al. (2022). Retardation of myopia progression by atropine in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 12(1), Article 10222.
21. Wu, P. C., Chen, C. T., Chang, L. C., et al. (2022). Efficacy and safety of low-dose atropine eye drops for myopia control: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Ophthalmology, 140(3), 244–252.
22. Yam, J. C., Jiang, Y., Tang, S. M., et al. (2021). Low-concentration atropine for myopia progression: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. Ophthalmology, 128(6), 864–875.
23. Yam, J. C., Li, F. F., Zhang, X., et al. (2022). Two-year clinical trial of the low-concentration atropine for myopia progression study. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 234, 191–201.
24. Yam, J. C., Tang, S. M., Kam, K. W., et al. (2023). Combined atropine and optical interventions for myopia control. Ophthalmology, 130(7), 748–757.
25. Yam, J. C., Zhang, X. J., Zhang, Y., et al. (2022). Three-year clinical trial on atropine cessation and rebound myopia progression. Ophthalmology, 129(3), 308–321.
26. Zhang, Y., Li, S. M., Kang, M. T., et al. (2023). Rebound effects after cessation of atropine treatment for myopia. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 247, 1–9.