Optic Disc Parameters of Myopic Children with Atropine Treatment

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To characterize optic disc parameters, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), and the intraocular pressure (IOP) of myopic children under continual topical 0.25% atropine treatment.

Methods: From October 1, 2010 to September 31, 2011, 67 eyes of 35 myopic children were recruited. The children were treated with 0.25% atropine nightly for myopia control. Visual acuity, refraction, IOP, axial length (AL, IOL Master), RNFLT, and optic disc parameters (Stratus OCT) were measured at enrollment and every 2 months. All patients had at least 1 year of follow-up.

Results: Enrolled children had a mean age of 10.3 ± 2.4 years (5–15 years). Of the 67 studied eyes, the mean spherical equivalent (SE) was −2.60 ± 1.58 diopters (D) (−6.75–−0.5 D). Under the treatment of 0.25% atropine, myopia increased by 0.53 ± 0.10D per year (P < 0.0001), and AL elongated by 0.245 ± 0.042 mm per year (P < 0.0001). No significant change was noted in the IOP and optic nerve parameters including peripapillary RNFLT, areas of optic disc, cup and rim, or cup/disc ratio over the follow-up period during atropine treatment (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: 0.25% Atropine treatment for myopia control did not significantly affect the IOP, optic nerve parameters, and RNFLT in children over a mean of 15.2 ± 2.4 months treatment and follow-up. 0.25% Atropine is a relatively safe option for myopia control.

KEYWORDS:

• Atropine
• children
• myopia
• optic disc parameters
• retinal fiber layer thickness

Acknowledgments

The authors have no proprietary interest in the research presented herein.

Supported by a grant from the Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, TCRD-TPE-100-31.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.