Eye Drops Study for Myopia Control in Schoolchildren

The myopia prevalence in schoolchildren is high in Taiwan. The myopia progression is fast in children and often associated high myopia in later life. This prospective and randomized study to investigate the effect of myopia control in myopic children with ultra low concentrations of atropine eye drops and/or low concentrations of anti-allergic and inflammatory eye drops.

Myopia onset earlier in children who would suffer a high degree of myopia in the future adulthood.and higher risk for retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and even blindness. In Taiwan, myopia macular degeneration is the first place of irreversible blind cause in the elderly. The evidence based medicine shows atropine is the most effective treatment for the progression of myopia so far, but the side effects including photophobia and near blurred vision often disturbing patients and resulting poor compliance and high drop-out rate. Recently, the studies from Taiwan and Singapore showed that low concentrations of atropine (0.05% or 0.01%) can effectively inhibit the myopia progression, reduce the symptoms of photophobia, and to achieve favorable myopia control. Previous study found that myopia and allergic conjunctivitis and inflammation were related. The investigators designed a prospective and randomized study to investigate the effect of myopia control in myopic children with ultra low concentrations of atropine eye drops and/or low concentrations of anti-allergic and inflammatory eye drops. Due to environmental factors such as near work, after school class and outdoor activity are also great associated with myopia, the questionnaires also are collected in this study.

Cycloplegic spherical refraction change measured by auto-refractometer (Diopter) is the main indicator of the myopia progression.

Axial length change (mm) measured by non-contact biometry is another indicator of the myopia progression.

Record by patients and their parents about how many hours per week of near work (ex. computer/video game,cell phone,reading, piano playing...) and outdoor activities, the compliance of atropine use, discomfort after atropine use (ex. photophobia or blurred vision when near work)

Inclusion Criteria: Myopia diagnosed with the spherical equivalent refraction at least -0.5 diopter (D) Must be able to use eye drops Exclusion Criteria: astigmatism -1.50 D or greater strabismus amblyopia cataract glaucoma any ocular diseases ocular surgery history of systemic diseases (ex. asthma, heart disease...) contact lenses user orthokeratology user