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Medecine Sciences : M/S 2020Myopia is a refractive anomaly, a global public health issue, mainly due to an increase in axial length of the eyeball. Myopia is increasing worldwide with the... (Review)
Review
Myopia is a refractive anomaly, a global public health issue, mainly due to an increase in axial length of the eyeball. Myopia is increasing worldwide with the appearance of a "myopia global growing epidemic". In children under 6 years old, 20 % have abnormalities, the most common of which are primarily refractive abnormalities, followed by strabismus and amblyopia. Myopia presents a major risk of complications, correlated with its severity, such as retinal detachment, retinal neovascularization, early cataracts and glaucoma. In children with high myopia, syndromic myopia must be explored. Early detection of myopia onset and progression is essential to myopia control strategies. The most promising treatments include outdoor activities, defocusing corrective lenses, defocusing contact lenses, orthokeratology and pharmacological treatments with low-dose atropine.
Topics: Age of Onset; Atropine; Child; Child, Preschool; Contact Lenses; Disease Progression; Exercise; Humans; Infant; Myopia; Parks, Recreational
PubMed: 32821053
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2020131 -
Progress in Retinal and Eye Research Jul 2021There is rapidly expanding interest in interventions to slow myopia progression in children and teenagers, with the intent of reducing risk of myopia-associated... (Review)
Review
There is rapidly expanding interest in interventions to slow myopia progression in children and teenagers, with the intent of reducing risk of myopia-associated complications later in life. Despite many publications dedicated to the topic, little attention has been devoted to understanding 'efficacy' in myopia control and its application. Treatment effect has been expressed in multiple ways, making comparison between therapies and prognosis for an individual patient difficult. Available efficacy data are generally limited to two to three years making long-term treatment effect uncertain. From an evidence-based perspective, efficacy projection should be conservative and not extend beyond that which has been empirically established. Using this principle, review of the literature, data from our own clinical studies, assessment of demonstrated myopia control treatments and allowance for the limitations and context of available data, we arrive at the following important interpretations: (i) axial elongation is the preferred endpoint for assessing myopic progression; (ii) there is insufficient evidence to suggest that faster progressors, or younger myopes, derive greater benefit from treatment; (iii) the initial rate of reduction of axial elongation by myopia control treatments is not sustained; (iv) consequently, using percentage reduction in progression as an index to describe treatment effect can be very misleading and (v) cumulative absolute reduction in axial elongation (CARE) emerges as a preferred efficacy metric; (vi) maximum CARE that has been measured for existing myopia control treatments is 0.44 mm (which equates to about 1 D); (vii) there is no apparent superior method of treatment, although commonly prescribed therapies such as 0.01% atropine and progressive addition spectacles lenses have not consistently provided clinically important effects; (viii) while different treatments have shown divergent efficacy in the first year, they have shown only small differences after this; (ix) rebound should be assumed until proven otherwise; (x) an illusion of inflated efficacy is created by measurement error in refraction, sample bias in only treating 'measured' fast progressors and regression to the mean; (xi) decision to treat should be based on age of onset (or refraction at a given age), not past progression; (xii) the decreased risk of complications later in life provided by even modest reductions in progression suggest treatment is advised for all young myopes and, because of limitations of available interventions, should be aggressive.
Topics: Adolescent; Atropine; Child; Disease Progression; Eyeglasses; Humans; Myopia; Refraction, Ocular; Vision Tests
PubMed: 33253901
DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100923 -
JAMA Feb 2023Early onset of myopia is associated with high myopia later in life, and myopia is irreversible once developed. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
IMPORTANCE
Early onset of myopia is associated with high myopia later in life, and myopia is irreversible once developed.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of low-concentration atropine eyedrops at 0.05% and 0.01% concentration for delaying the onset of myopia.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked trial conducted at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Eye Centre enrolled 474 nonmyopic children aged 4 through 9 years with cycloplegic spherical equivalent between +1.00 D to 0.00 D and astigmatism less than -1.00 D. The first recruited participant started treatment on July 11, 2017, and the last participant was enrolled on June 4, 2020; the date of the final follow-up session was June 4, 2022.
INTERVENTIONS
Participants were assigned at random to the 0.05% atropine (n = 160), 0.01% atropine (n = 159), and placebo (n = 155) groups and had eyedrops applied once nightly in both eyes over 2 years.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcomes were the 2-year cumulative incidence rate of myopia (cycloplegic spherical equivalent of at least -0.50 D in either eye) and the percentage of participants with fast myopic shift (spherical equivalent myopic shift of at least 1.00 D).
RESULTS
Of the 474 randomized patients (mean age, 6.8 years; 50% female), 353 (74.5%) completed the trial. The 2-year cumulative incidence of myopia in the 0.05% atropine, 0.01% atropine, and placebo groups were 28.4% (33/116), 45.9% (56/122), and 53.0% (61/115), respectively, and the percentages of participants with fast myopic shift at 2 years were 25.0%, 45.1%, and 53.9%. Compared with the placebo group, the 0.05% atropine group had significantly lower 2-year cumulative myopia incidence (difference, 24.6% [95% CI, 12.0%-36.4%]) and percentage of patients with fast myopic shift (difference, 28.9% [95% CI, 16.5%-40.5%]). Compared with the 0.01% atropine group, the 0.05% atropine group had significantly lower 2-year cumulative myopia incidence (difference, 17.5% [95% CI, 5.2%-29.2%]) and percentage of patients with fast myopic shift (difference, 20.1% [95% CI, 8.0%-31.6%]). The 0.01% atropine and placebo groups were not significantly different in 2-year cumulative myopia incidence or percentage of patients with fast myopic shift. Photophobia was the most common adverse event and was reported by 12.9% of participants in the 0.05% atropine group, 18.9% in the 0.01% atropine group, and 12.2% in the placebo group in the second year.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Among children aged 4 to 9 years without myopia, nightly use of 0.05% atropine eyedrops compared with placebo resulted in a significantly lower incidence of myopia and lower percentage of participants with fast myopic shift at 2 years. There was no significant difference between 0.01% atropine and placebo. Further research is needed to replicate the findings, to understand whether this represents a delay or prevention of myopia, and to assess longer-term safety.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-IPR-15006883.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Male; Atropine; Disease Progression; Incidence; Mydriatics; Myopia; Ophthalmic Solutions; Refraction, Ocular; Age of Onset; Double-Blind Method; Child, Preschool
PubMed: 36786791
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.24162 -
Ophthalmology Mar 2022Comparative efficacy and safety of different concentrations of atropine for myopia control. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
TOPIC
Comparative efficacy and safety of different concentrations of atropine for myopia control.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Atropine is known to be an effective intervention to delay myopia progression. Nonetheless, no well-supported evidence exists yet to rank the clinical outcomes of various concentrations of atropine.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov on April 14, 2021. We selected studies involving atropine treatment of at least 1 year's duration for myopia control in children. We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and compared 8 atropine concentrations (1% to 0.01%). We ranked the atropine concentrations for the corresponding outcomes by P score (estimate of probability of being best treatment). Our primary outcomes were mean annual changes in refraction (diopters/year) and axial length (AXL; millimeters/year). We extracted data on the proportion of eyes showing myopia progression and safety outcomes (photopic and mesopic pupil diameter, accommodation amplitude, and distance and near best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA]).
RESULTS
Thirty pairwise comparisons from 16 RCTs (3272 participants) were obtained. Our NMA ranked the 1%, 0.5%, and 0.05% atropine concentrations as the 3 most beneficial for myopia control, as assessed for both primary outcomes: 1% atropine (mean differences compared with control: refraction, 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.58-1.04]; AXL, -0.35 [-0.46 to -0.25]); 0.5% atropine (mean differences compared with control: refraction, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.40-1.00]; AXL, -0.23 [-0.38 to -0.07]); 0.05% atropine (mean differences compared with control: refraction, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.17-1.07]; AXL, -0.25 [-0.44 to -0.06]). In terms of myopia control as assessed by relative risk (RR) for overall myopia progression, 0.05% was ranked as the most beneficial concentration (RR, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.27-0.57]). The risk for adverse effects tended to rise as the atropine concentration was increased, although this tendency was not evident for distance BCVA. No valid network was formed for near BCVA.
DISCUSSION
The ranking probability for efficacy was not proportional to dose (i.e., 0.05% atropine was comparable with that of high-dose atropine [1% and 0.5%]), although those for pupil size and accommodation amplitude were dose related.
Topics: Administration, Ophthalmic; Adolescent; Atropine; Axial Length, Eye; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Mydriatics; Myopia; Network Meta-Analysis; Ophthalmic Solutions; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 34688698
DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.10.016 -
American Family Physician Dec 2019Amblyopia is the leading cause of monocular vision loss in children. Early recognition and treatment are important to prevent vision loss. The U.S. Preventive Services...
Amblyopia is the leading cause of monocular vision loss in children. Early recognition and treatment are important to prevent vision loss. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends vision screening for all children at least once between three and five years of age to detect the presence of amblyopia or its risk factors. The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend routine, age-appropriate red reflex testing, examination for signs of strabismus, and vision chart testing. Photoscreening may be a useful adjunct to traditional vision screening, but there is limited evidence that it improves visual outcomes. Treatments for amblyopia include patching, atropine eye drops, and optical penalization of the nonamblyopic eye. In children with moderate amblyopia, patching for two hours per day is as effective as six hours, and daily atropine is as effective as daily patching. Children younger than seven years receive the most benefit from treatment, but older children may still benefit. Amblyopia recurs in 25% of children, so continued surveillance is important.
Topics: Amblyopia; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Vision Screening
PubMed: 31845774
DOI: No ID Found -
Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology... 2019Atropine eye drops is an emerging therapy for myopia control. This article reviews the recent clinical trials to provide a better understanding of the use of atropine... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Atropine eye drops is an emerging therapy for myopia control. This article reviews the recent clinical trials to provide a better understanding of the use of atropine eye drops on myopia progression.
METHODS
All randomized clinical trials of atropine eye drops for myopia progression in the literatures were reviewed.
RESULTS
Atropine eye drops 1% conferred the strongest efficacy on myopia control. However, its use was limited by the side effects of blurred near vision and photophobia. ATOM 2 study evaluated 0.5%, 0.1%, and 0.01% atropine on 400 myopic children, and suggested that 0.01% is the optimal concentration with good efficacy and minimal side effects. Since then, the use of atropine eye drops has been transitioned from high-concentration to low-concentration worldwide. Recent Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) study evaluated 0.05%, 0.025%, 0.01% atropine eye drops and placebo group in 438 myopic children. The study firstly provided placebo-compared evidence of low-concentration atropine eye drops in myopia control. Furthermore, both efficacy and side effects followed a concentration-dependent response within 0.01% to 0.05% atropine. Among them, 0.05% atropine was the optimal concentration to achieve best efficacy and safety profile.
CONCLUSIONS
Low concentration atropine is effective in myopia control. The widespread use of low-concentration atropine, especially in East Asia, may help prevent the myopia progression for the high-risk children. Further investigations on the rebound phenomenon following drops cessation, and longer-term individualized treatment approach should be warranted.
Topics: Atropine; Disease Progression; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Mydriatics; Myopia, Degenerative; Ophthalmic Solutions; Refraction, Ocular
PubMed: 31478936
DOI: 10.1097/APO.0000000000000256 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Aug 2022Myopia or short-sightedness is an emerging pandemic affecting more than 50% population in South-Asian countries. It is associated with several sight-threatening... (Review)
Review
Myopia or short-sightedness is an emerging pandemic affecting more than 50% population in South-Asian countries. It is associated with several sight-threatening complications, such as retinal detachment and choroidal neovascularization, leading to an increased burden of visual impairment and blindness. The pathophysiology of myopia involves a complex interplay of numerous environmental and genetic factors leading to progressive axial elongation. Environmental factors such as decreased outdoor activity, reduced exposure to ambient light, strenuous near work, and role of family history of myopia have been implicated with increased prevalence of this refractive error. While multiple clinical trials have been undertaken to devise appropriate treatment strategies and target the modifiable risk factors, there is no single treatment modality with ideal results; therefore, formulating a comprehensive approach is required to control the myopia epidemic. This review article summarizes the epidemiology, dynamic concepts of pathophysiology, and evolution of the treatment modalities for myopia such as pharmacological (atropine and other agents) and optical methods (spectacles, contact lenses, and orthokeratology).
Topics: Atropine; Contact Lenses; Disease Progression; Eyeglasses; Humans; Myopia
PubMed: 35918919
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2098_21 -
Eye & Contact Lens May 2020Myopia is a global problem that is increasing at an epidemic rate in the world. Although the refractive error can be corrected easily, myopes, particularly those with... (Review)
Review
Myopia is a global problem that is increasing at an epidemic rate in the world. Although the refractive error can be corrected easily, myopes, particularly those with high myopia, are susceptible to potentially blinding eye diseases later in life. Despite a plethora of myopia research, the molecular/cellular mechanisms underlying the development of myopia are not well understood, preventing the search for the most effective pharmacological control. Consequently, several approaches to slowing down myopia progression in the actively growing eyes of children have been underway. So far, atropine, an anticholinergic blocking agent, has been most effective and is used by clinicians in off-label ways for myopia control. Although the exact mechanisms of its action remain elusive and debatable, atropine encompasses a complex interplay with receptors on different ocular tissues at multiple levels and, hence, can be categorized as a shotgun approach to myopia treatment. This review will provide a brief overview of the biological mechanisms implicated in mediating the effects of atropine in myopia control.
Topics: Atropine; Child; Disease Progression; Humans; Muscarinic Antagonists; Mydriatics; Myopia; Ophthalmic Solutions; Refraction, Ocular
PubMed: 31899695
DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000677 -
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual... May 2023Myopia is a dynamic and rapidly moving field, with ongoing research providing a better understanding of the etiology leading to novel myopia control strategies. In 2019,...
Myopia is a dynamic and rapidly moving field, with ongoing research providing a better understanding of the etiology leading to novel myopia control strategies. In 2019, the International Myopia Institute (IMI) assembled and published a series of white papers across relevant topics and updated the evidence with a digest in 2021. Here, we summarize findings across key topics from the previous 2 years. Studies in animal models have continued to explore how wavelength and intensity of light influence eye growth and have examined new pharmacologic agents and scleral cross-linking as potential strategies for slowing myopia. In children, the term premyopia is gaining interest with increased attention to early implementation of myopia control. Most studies use the IMI definitions of ≤-0.5 diopters (D) for myopia and ≤-6.0 D for high myopia, although categorization and definitions for structural consequences of high myopia remain an issue. Clinical trials have demonstrated that newer spectacle lens designs incorporating multiple segments, lenslets, or diffusion optics exhibit good efficacy. Clinical considerations and factors influencing efficacy for soft multifocal contact lenses and orthokeratology are discussed. Topical atropine remains the only widely accessible pharmacologic treatment. Rebound observed with higher concentration of atropine is not evident with lower concentrations or optical interventions. Overall, myopia control treatments show little adverse effect on visual function and appear generally safe, with longer wear times and combination therapies maximizing outcomes. An emerging category of light-based therapies for children requires comprehensive safety data to enable risk versus benefit analysis. Given the success of myopia control strategies, the ethics of including a control arm in clinical trials is heavily debated. IMI recommendations for clinical trial protocols are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Atropine; Myopia; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; Combined Modality Therapy; Refraction, Ocular; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37126356
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.6.7