Abstract
Purpose:
To explore the implementation of atropine treatment for progressive myopia in children.
Methods:
In a children’s academic hospital, we initiated therapy with atropine 0.5% eye drops daily in 50 children (3-17 years) with documented progressive myopia. Both parents and children filled in a questionnaires about lifestyle, adverse events, and adherence to the therapy. Eye examination performed at baseline, and after 1, 4, and 10 months included cycloplegic refractive error, (near)visual acuity, pupil size and axial length. Frequencies of categorical variables were compared with Fisher’s exact test; interobserver variability was tested with Cohen’s kappa test.
Results:
97.5% of all patients reported adverse events: photophobia (93%), reading problems (59%) and headaches (30%). 78.9% of the patients reported adhere to the therapy. Only 16.3% of all patients discontinued therapy, most within 1 month after initiation.
Conclusions:
Despite high frequency of adverse events, many patients treated with atropine eye drops for high myopia manage to stay on therapy.
Keywords: 605 myopia •
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