Effect of 0.01% Atropine on Accommodation in Myopic Teenagers

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of 0.01% atropine eye drops on accommodative system parameters among teenagers with low myopia. Methods: Ninety-five myopic teenagers [39 boys (8.69 ± 2.473) and 56 girls (8.54 ± 2.054) aged 5-17 years] with no history of eye disease were enrolled. Biometric and accommodative system parameters were evaluated before and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of 0.01% atropine eye drop instillation. Results: Participants without accommodative demand at 6 months demonstrated insignificant changes after the atropine instillation (all p > 0.05). Nevertheless, there were significant differences in accommodative sensitivity, accommodative amplitude, accommodative responsiveness, and negative relative accommodation (NRA) at 3 months compared with baseline after atropine instillation (all p < 0.05). Except spherical equivalent refraction, cornea thickness, intraocular pressure, and axial length were stable after the 0.01% atropine instillation (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Morphologically, current measurements suggested that 0.01% atropine had favorable reduction of accommodation for childhood low myopia over a half-year period.

Keywords: accommodation; axial length; low-concentration atropine; myopia; ocular biometric components; spherical equivalent.

FIGURE 1

Change in biometric parameters after the instillation of 0.01% atropine eye drops. (A) Spherical equivalent. (B) Axial length. (C) Cornea thickness. (D) Intraocular pressure.

FIGURE 2

Change in accommodative system parameters after the instillation of 0.01% atropine eye drops. (A) Accommodative sensitivity. (B) Accommodative amplitude. (C) Accommodative response. (D) NRA, negative relative accommodation. (E) PRA, positive relative accommodation. (F) AC/A, accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio.