Revista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas (Jul 2023)
Use of atropine 0.01% eye drops for controlling myopia progression in children
Abstract
Introduction: Globally, an increase in the prevalence of myopia along with its association with other illnesses have been evidenced. A great number of investigations certify the effectiveness of using atropine 0.01% eye drops and indicate that it is the most effective method to control myopia progression. Objective: To show the effectiveness of atropine 0.01% eye drops for the control of myopia progression as well as its adverse effects in the pediatric population. Material and Methods: A bibliographic review was performed in different databases and the Virtual Health Library from January 2003 to December 2022. Keywords such as myopia, atropine, ophthalmic solutions, adverse effects, and children were used; they were also combined with OR, AND, NOT boolean operators. A total of 178 references were obtained; of them, 47 ones were selected because they were considered of higher relevance and novelty. Development: Myopia shows itself a wide geographic distribution as well as a variable prevalence due to genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. Several research studies indicate that the use of atropine 0.01% eye drops is the most effective method to control myopia progression, reporting few adverse reactions of low intensity. There are still many unanswered questions about its preparation, long-term results, and the rebound effect once the treatment is concluded. Conclusions: Atropine 0.01% eye drops have demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of myopia progression in pediatric patients, with no significant adverse effects. Analytical studies must be carried out to evaluate its effectiveness and adverse effects in the Cuban pediatric population.
