Nearsightedness Progression in Children Slowed Down by Medicated Eye Drops
Researchers present findings on five-year clinical trial of low-dose atropine for myopia at AAO 2015, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual meeting
Researchers present findings on five-year clinical trial of low-dose atropine for myopia at AAO 2015, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual meeting
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers say medicated eye drops may be the key to fighting rapidly worsening eyesight in children with myopia. Results from a five-year clinical trial show that drops of low-dose atropine significantly slowed the progression of nearsightedness in children with fewer side effects than higher dosages. The research is being presented today at AAO 2015, the 119th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The findings suggest that this medication could potentially be an effective treatment in the fight against the global surge in nearsightedness.
Nearsightedness, or myopia, has increased dramatically worldwide over the last few decades and remains a leading cause of visual impairment globally. In the United States, an estimated 42 percent of the population is myopic, up from 25 percent in the 1970s.[1] Developed Asian countries report myopia rates of 80 to 90 percent among young adults. [2] While vision can be corrected by glasses or contacts, severe nearsightedness has ramifications that include greater risk of retinal detachment, macular degeneration, premature cataracts and glaucoma.
To help combat this public health issue, investigators in Singapore turned to atropine, a treatment commonly used to treat lazy eye. In this study, which began in 2006, 400 children age 6 to 12 were randomly assigned a daily dose of atropine. Three different groups took drops nightly at concentrations of 0.5, 0.1, or .01 percent for two years. Doctors then stopped the medication for 12 months. For children whose eyes became more myopic during that year off (-0.5 D or more), researchers started another round at 0.01 percent for another two years. The researchers discovered the following key findings:
Atropine inhibits axial growth of the eye associated with nearsightedness. But, the way the medication works remains largely unknown. In addition, the medication has several side effects when given at higher concentrations. For instance, at the concentration used for lazy eye, atropine dilates the pupils. This results in light sensitivity and blurry vision when looking at objects up close. Children taking higher concentrations often need to wear bifocals and sunglasses. In addition, higher concentrations have also caused allergic conjunctivitis and dermatitis.[3] These drawbacks explain why atropine use for myopia to date remains fairly uncommon in the United States.
This trend could change now that much lower doses of atropine appear to offer the similar benefit in reducing nearsightedness progression, without the side effects. The researchers say this latest five-year follow-up study shows the long-term benefits outweigh the risks. However, they emphasize more information will be needed to establish which children are good candidates, as about 9 percent of children in the low-dose group did not respond to the drops in the first two years. More research is also needed to determine when treatment can safely begin and how long the drops should be used. Additional studies on atropine for myopia progression to be conducted in Europe and Japan may help find those answers.
"For a long time we've known that atropine drops can help keep myopia from getting worse to some degree," said Dr. Donald T. Tan, FRCS, FRCOphth, lead investigator and professor of ophthalmology at the Singapore Eye Research Institute and the Singapore National Eye Centre. "We now have data showing that it is not only effective, but also safe. Combined with other interventions, this treatment could become a great ally in preventing myopia from causing serious visual impairment in children worldwide."
Five-Year Clinical Trial on Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia 2: Myopia Control with Atropine 0.01% Eyedrops will be presented at AAO 2015, the 119th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Known as the place "Where all of Ophthalmology Meets,"™ the Academy's annual meeting runs from Nov.13-17 at the Sands Expo/Venetian in Las Vegas. It is the largest ophthalmology conference in the world. For more information, see the AAO 2015 highlights.
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology, headquartered in San Francisco, is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons, serving more than 32,000 members worldwide. The Academy's mission is to advance the lifelong learning and professional interests of ophthalmologists to ensure that the public can obtain the best possible eye care. For more information, visit www.aao.org.
The Academy is also a leading provider of eye care information to the public. The Academy's EyeSmart® program educates the public about the importance of eye health and empowers them to preserve healthy vision. EyeSmart provides the most trusted and medically accurate information about eye diseases, conditions and injuries. OjosSanos™ is the Spanish-language version of the program. Visit www.geteyesmart.org or www.ojossanos.org to learn more.
[1] Increased Prevalence of Myopia in the United States Between 1971-1972 and 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol 2009;127(12):1632-1639
[2] Myopia, The Lancet. 2012 May 5;379(9827):1739-48. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60272-4.
[3] Atropine for the Treatment of Childhood Myopia (ATOM2), Ophthalmology, Feb. 2012
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SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology
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