Research shows that an eye drop can prevent nearsightedness in children, at least on a temporary basis.
Nightly eye drops that contain .05% atropine, a medication that relaxes the eye muscle responsible for focus, may delay the onset of myopia, according to a report published in JAMA on Feb. 14.
Nearsightedness, or myopia, is an irreversible condition that occurs when the eyeball grows too long horizontally, causing blurred vision. It often begins in childhood and becomes worse later in life. It can increase the risk of complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
The number of people affected with myopia has increased over the last few decades. Currently, about a quarter of the population has myopia. That number is expected to reach 50% by 2050.
Genetics plays a key role in the prevalence of myopia. Children of two myopic parents are 10 times as likely to develop nearsightedness as compared to children of parents with normal vision.
However, with the rate of myopia increasing, it’s suspected that there are environmental factors at play as well. Some scientists feel children are getting myopia more frequently due to spending less time outdoors.
The Study
The study that reviewed the eye drops was conducted by Jason Yam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Low-dose atropine drops are already used to slow myopia progression in several countries in Asia. Yam wanted to see if the medication could also delay the condition’s onset.
His team recruited nonmyopic children ages 4 to 9. Each received eyedrops nightly. Participants were randomly assigned to receive drops with .05% atropine, .01% atropine, or a placebo.
A total of 353 children used their eye drops for two years. 25% of the children who took the .05% drops developed myopia in at least one eye. This compares to 50% of the kids who used the .01% drops. This is encouraging news to scientists, but more research is needed.
The next step will be to conduct studies in more diverse populations and environments, as this study took place in Hong Kong only. Scientists will need to determine whether eye color factors into the results as lighter-pigmented eyes may be more susceptible to side effects such as sensitivity.
It is unknown how atropine works to slow myopia onset and progression. Scientists believe it may improve blood circulation, but that’s just a hypothesis.
The new study was too short to determine whether atropine eye drops can prevent myopia. But participants will be involved in a follow-up study in which they will continue taking the medication into their teenage years when eye length stabilizes. This will help the team determine its long-term effects.