Abstract
Background
To test the hypothesis that 0.01% atropine eyedrops are a safe and effective myopia-control approach in Australian children.
Methods
Children (6–16 years; 49% Europeans, 18% East Asian, 22% South Asian, and 12% other/mixed ancestry) with documented myopia progression were enrolled into this single-centre randomised, parallel, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial and randomised to receive 0.01% atropine (n = 104) or placebo (n = 49) eyedrops (2:1 ratio) instilled nightly over 24 months (mean index age = 12.2 ± 2.5 and 11.2 ± 2.8 years, respectively). Outcome measures were the changes in spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL) from baseline.
Results
At 12 months, the mean SE and AL change from baseline were −0.31D (95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.39 to −0.22) and 0.16 mm (95%CI = 0.13–0.20) in the atropine group and −0.53D (95%CI = −0.66 to −0.40) and 0.25 mm (95%CI = 0.20–0.30) in the placebo group (group difference p ≤ 0.01). At 24 months, the mean SE and AL change from baseline was −0.64D (95%CI = −0.73 to −0.56) and 0.34 mm (95%CI = 0.30–0.37) in the atropine group, and −0.78D (95%CI = −0.91 to −0.65) and 0.38 mm (95%CI = 0.33–0.43) in the placebo group. Group difference at 24 months was not statistically significant (p = 0.10). At 24 months, the atropine group had reduced accommodative amplitude and pupillary light response compared to the placebo group.
Conclusions
In Australian children, 0.01% atropine eyedrops were safe, well-tolerated, and had a modest myopia-control effect, although there was an apparent decrease in efficacy between 18 and 24 months, which is likely driven by a higher dropout rate in the placebo group.
To test the hypothesis that 0.01% atropine eyedrops are a safe and effective myopia-control approach in Australian children.
Methods
Children (6–16 years; 49% Europeans, 18% East Asian, 22% South Asian, and 12% other/mixed ancestry) with documented myopia progression were enrolled into this single-centre randomised, parallel, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial and randomised to receive 0.01% atropine (n = 104) or placebo (n = 49) eyedrops (2:1 ratio) instilled nightly over 24 months (mean index age = 12.2 ± 2.5 and 11.2 ± 2.8 years, respectively). Outcome measures were the changes in spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL) from baseline.
Results
At 12 months, the mean SE and AL change from baseline were −0.31D (95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.39 to −0.22) and 0.16 mm (95%CI = 0.13–0.20) in the atropine group and −0.53D (95%CI = −0.66 to −0.40) and 0.25 mm (95%CI = 0.20–0.30) in the placebo group (group difference p ≤ 0.01). At 24 months, the mean SE and AL change from baseline was −0.64D (95%CI = −0.73 to −0.56) and 0.34 mm (95%CI = 0.30–0.37) in the atropine group, and −0.78D (95%CI = −0.91 to −0.65) and 0.38 mm (95%CI = 0.33–0.43) in the placebo group. Group difference at 24 months was not statistically significant (p = 0.10). At 24 months, the atropine group had reduced accommodative amplitude and pupillary light response compared to the placebo group.
Conclusions
In Australian children, 0.01% atropine eyedrops were safe, well-tolerated, and had a modest myopia-control effect, although there was an apparent decrease in efficacy between 18 and 24 months, which is likely driven by a higher dropout rate in the placebo group.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1001-1012 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Clinical & experimental ophthalmology |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Early online date | 09 Sept 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Early online date - 09 Sept 2022 |
Keywords
- randomised controlled trial
- atropine
- axial length
- myopia control
- myopia