Management of progressive school myopia with topical atropine eyedrops and photochromic bifocal spectacles.
OBJECTIVE
To report our results of medical management of myopia, and add these to the prior literature supporting this practice.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the medical records of 35 patient-subjects offered this treatment with adequate followup over a five year period. Treatment consisted of prescription of photochromic gray extra lenses incorporating full myopic correction with a +3.00 bifocal addition, and atropine 1% ophthalmic drops, one in each eye, each night at bedtime. Compliance was monitored based upon mydriasis and cycloplegia.


RESULTS
The mean change in refractive error per year was +0.07 diopters for the always compliant group, that is, a decrease in the amount of myopia; -0.18 diopters per year for the sometimes compliant group; and -0.17 diopters for the never compliant group, an increase in the degree of myopia. Statistical comparison of our always compliant group with each of the other two groups using the t-test, yielded a P value of P<.10 in each case, considered to be "medically/clinically significant". Comparison of the mean annual change in refractive error of our always compliant group (+0.07 D/yr) with the mean annual change in re-fractive error in the general population aged 8-15 years (-0.24 D/yr) shows an absolute difference of 0.31 D/yr. This difference is "statistically significant" (t-test) with a P <.02.


CONCLUSIONS
Atropine and bifocals are an appropriate, effective, and safe management for progressive school myopia; and probably also for pathological myopia.
Romano
P E
PE
perxbvq@colorado.net
Donovan
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D001285:Atropine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009184:Mydriatics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009216:Myopia / Q000628:therapy*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009184:Mydriatics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D001285:Atropine