Drops for the eyes will help with myopia

One of the widely used in ophthalmology are drops with atropine. Their use in low concentration can slow the development of myopia in children. This conclusion was reached by scientists as a result of five-year clinical studies conducted by Singaporean scientists headed by Professor Audrey Chia.

In recent years, the incidence of myopia has increased significantly. Myopia is considered to be one of the most common disorders of vision in both children and adults. In different countries from 40 to 80% of young people have this disease.

In the presence of this disorder, a correction is prescribed, which can be performed using glasses or contact lenses. But there are certain risks that increase significantly with a high degree of myopia. In particular, in this case, the probability of detachment of the retina increases. The risk of glaucoma and cataracts is also increasing.

To prevent these possible complications, scientists from Singapore have attempted a wider use of atropine. As a rule, this substance is used in ophthalmic practice for diagnosis, since it causes the pupil to expand. This allows you to better study the condition of the fundus. Also, atropine may be required in the treatment of acute eye diseases and injuries due to the fact that it causes relaxation of the eye muscles.

In the National Eye Center and Scientific Research Institute, scientists tried to expand the usual boundaries of atropine use. For this they conducted a study in which about 400 children took part, their age was from 6 to 12 years.

All participants were divided into 3 groups and received at night atropine in the form of eye drops of different concentrations - 0.01;0.1;0.5%.All patients received this treatment for two years.

After this, researchers for one year observed the state of visual acuity in the subjects. At the same time, those who received atropine at low concentrations( 0.01%) noted positive dynamics. At the end of the follow-up period, they had a slower progression of myopia compared to those who did not receive such treatment or received atropine at a higher concentration.

The use of this tool leads to pupil dilatation, which can cause uncomfortable sensations with the daily use of atropine. But this applies only to the use of a substance in a high concentration. Scientists noted that instillation of atropine at a concentration of 0.01% does not cause a significant dilatation of the pupil and does not affect the photosensitivity of patients. Therefore, the use of this substance in a low dosage can be a new ophthalmic step in the treatment of myopia, which will reduce the progression of this disease without the development of side effects.

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