What is this new "Atropine to prevent Myopia" ?

This is a updated version of June 2024 to the old post. This contains newer relevant information. We have retained the old post to just lend you a perspective. Under the guidance of a Kids Eye Doctor the Atropine drops does work.  The Drops are available in India. 

Old post=

This "New Treatment" of "Atropine drops to prevent progression of Myopia" has originated from a Study being done in Singapore, SNEC. 

Treatment: Atropine drops are instilled daily to prevent the progression of Myopia in Children.

100% of the Children of Singapore are Myopic (also a high percentage in Chinese).This is an alarming factor, as a statistic and a health concern for a nation.

When Atropine was used for other purposes, the progression of Myopia was arrested.

So a prospective study was started. 1% atropine drops were instilled once a day in eyes of Kids. This definitely arrested the myopia progression. But it got along with it, a dilated pupil, allowing much extra light to enter the eye, hence discomfort and unknown long term ill effects. It also brought along difficulty in near vision, where Kids had to be given glasses for near vision or progressive glasses. Plus logically, the treatment has to stop at some time, when the myopia came back, known as rebound myopia, in a much severe progression. So it did not serve the purpose.

So the next prospective study was done with 0.5 %  Atropine drops. Again same results. This definitely arrested the myopia progression. But it got along with it, a dilated pupil, allowing much extra light to enter the eye, hence discomfort and unknown long term ill effects. It also brought along difficulty in near vision, where Kids had to be given glasses for near vision or progressive glasses. Plus logically, the treatment has to stop at some time, when the myopia came back, known as rebound myopia, in a much severe progression. So it did not serve the purpose.

So now the latest study is on with 0.01% Atropine drops. It does stop the progression of Myopia. But the questions and ill effects still remain. 

So whenever my patients hear or read about these "New treatements" i talk to them in detail about this. Ask them to read about it. Then again discuss. Then ask them to get drops from Singapore . The 0.01 % drops are not available in India, and the doctors in India are diluting physically the 1 % drops and giving to their patients.

After all these deliberations , only a small % of my patients have opted for this treatment.  But as a researcher i am as yet not dismissing it, i am awaiting definite conclusions.

THESE  DROPS  ARE  NOW  AVAILABLE  IN INDIA  BY INDIAN COMAPNIES.

Updated February 2019: American Academy of Paediatric Ophthalomology has published that the new figures for Myopia in USA are 40% of kids below 15 years of age. Use of iPads, Phones and TV being the main culprit again.