Effects of low-concentration atropine eye drops on the optical quality of the eyes in myopic children.

PURPOSE: The present study was performed to compare the optical quality of the eyes of myopic children before and after treatment with atropine eye drops of different concentrations.

METHODS

In the study population of 71 patients (131 eyes), 34 patients (63 eyes) were given 0.01% atropine eye drops and 37 patients (68 eyes) were given 0.05% atropine eye drops. The modulation transfer function (MTF) cutoff frequency, Strehl ratio, objective scattering index (OSI), and predicted visual acuities (PVAs 100%, 20%, and 9%) under different lighting conditions were measured before and after two weeks of atropine treatment.

RESULTS

After using 0.05% atropine eye drops for two weeks, the Strehl ratio decreased from 0.27 ± 0.07 to 0.23 ± 0.07 (P = 0.0026), PVA 20% decreased from 1.15 ± 0.32 to 1.03 ± 0.36 (P = 0.0344), and PVA 9% decreased from 0.74 ± 0.23 to 0.64 ± 0.23 (P = 0.0073). The OSI was significantly higher after using 0.05% than 0.01% atropine eye drops (P = 0.0396), while both the Strehl ratio and PVA 20% were lower after using 0.05% than 0.01% atropine eye drops (P = 0.0087 and P = 0.0492, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The children's optical quality did not change significantly after using 0.01% atropine eye drops, whereas it decreased after using 0.05% atropine eye drops.