Atropine 0.05% concentrated eye drops can prevent nearsightedness in children. Photo: File
Hong Kong: The use of mobile phones and tablets is causing children as well as adults to suffer from worsening vision, especially distance vision, but a new study has found that eye drops called atropine can definitely slow down this condition.
Atropine eye drops are commonly used around the world to reduce the rate of myopia (nearsightedness). It is now known that a liquid with a low concentration of 0.05 to 0.01 percent atropine can slow the condition, at least temporarily. In this regard, a research report has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Atropine improves visual concentration by relaxing the muscles and eye muscles.
Atropine is still used in Asia, say Dr. Jason Yam of the University of Hong Kong and his colleagues. In this study, they included 474 children aged 4 to 9 years who were given 0.01 and 0.05% atropine drops once a day. Some of the same group were also given only placebo drops.
The first volunteer child was enrolled on July 11, 2017 and the last child was enrolled on June 4, 2020 while all were followed up on June 4, 2022. It was found that children who were given 0.05 atropine showed less visual impairment which was statistically significant.
Thus, if only 0.05% atropine drops are instilled in the children’s eyes, it can remove the weakness of vision for the next few years. Nearsightedness is a rare condition that has become a worldwide problem. Now it is the case that by 2050 half of the world’s population may suffer from it.
However, doctors have warned that parents should use atropine only after consulting a doctor and avoid self-administration.
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