THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 0.5-PERCENT ATROPINE IN CONTROLLING HIGH MYOPIA IN CHILDREN

Twenty highly myopic children (greater than or equal to - 6.0 D) were treated with 0.5% atropine eyedrops once per night. Twelve subjects we re initially treated with a short-acting cycloplegic agent, tropicamid e (0.5%) (Group A), and the other eight subjects did not receive any m yopic therapy before atropine (Group B). These cases were followed for up to five years. In Group A, the mean myopic progression rate after 0.5% atropine treatment was -0.01 +/- 0.04 D/M (Diopter/Month), which was significantly lower than that of the period during tropicamide tre atment (-0.12 +/- 0.09 D/M) (p < 0.05). In Group B, the mean myopic pr ogression rate after atropine therapy was begun was -0.04 +/- 0.06 D/M , which was also significantly slower than that of non-medication, -0. 14 +/- 0.07 D/M (p < 0.05). The results suggested that 0.5% atropine i s effective for slowing down myopic progression, even in highly myopic children.