Can I use 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops for a long time?

0.01% Atropine Sulfate Eye Drops-EIKANCE is widely used to control myopia in children, and its safety and feasibility of long-term use have been confirmed in multiple international studies. Compared with traditional high-concentration atropine, the 0.01% concentration significantly reduces side effects such as mydriasis and accommodative paralysis, and is therefore considered one of the most suitable atropine concentrations for long-term use. Multiple clinical trials, such as the Singapore ATOM study and the Hong Kong LAMP study, have shown that 0.01% atropine can effectively slow down the progression of axial lengthening and myopia in children during continuous use for 1 to 3 years, and the incidence of adverse reactions is extremely low. In the study, most children did not experience significant vision problems, light sensitivity or loss of accommodation function during long-term use, which makes the drug recommended by ophthalmologists worldwide as the first choice for early intervention of myopia in children.

EIKANCE is especially suitable for children aged 6 to 14 years whose myopia increases by more than 0.5 diopter per year. Since the development of myopia is long-term and persistent, if intervention methods are to be most effective, they must have good compliance and safety, so long-term use becomes one of the necessary conditions. Doctors usually recommend continuous use for at least two years, and whether to continue based on annual review results. Some children may still experience myopic rebound after stopping the drug, that is, the degree of myopia will accelerate again. Therefore, the current clinical strategy tends to gradually consider stopping the drug at the end of adolescence or after the axial length is stable.

Althoughlong-term use of 0.01% atropine is highly safe, it is still recommended to conduct it under the guidance of a specialist and review vision, refraction and axial length every 3 to 6 months to dynamically evaluate the efficacy of the drug and adjust treatment strategies. In addition, parents should encourage their children to maintain good eye-use habits during medication, such as outdoor activities for at least 2 hours a day, reducing the time of using electronic products, etc. Only by combining these non-drug measures with drug intervention can the best myopia control effect be achieved. In summary, EIKANCE, as a low-concentration atropine preparation, has good long-term safety and efficacy, and is currently one of the ideal drugs for controlling the progression of myopia in children.

Reference materials:https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/e/EikanceEyeDrops.pdf