Lower dose of atropine also slows myopia

Research has found 0.01 per cent atropine is 'almost' as effective as standard 1.0 per cent preparations in slowing myopic progression in children.

In a study from Singapore National Eye Center, published in this month's Ophthalmology, the mean myopia progression of 400 children aged between six and 12 years was followed over a two-year period.

The sample was randomly divided into groups using 1.0 per cent, 0.5 per cent or 0.01 per cent atropine.

After the two-year period the mean myopic progression was found to be -0.30DS, -0.38DS and -0.49DS respectively. This compares favourably with a -1.20DS shift in a placebo group.