How Atropine Eye Drops Slow Down Myopia in Kids

Have you ever heard of myopia? It's a condition where people can't see things far away very clearly. This is also called nearsightedness. Myopia is becoming more common in kids all around the world. Myopia happens because the eyeball is a little too long, or the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) is too curved. To help slow down the growth of the eye, doctors have found that using special eye drops called low-dose atropine can be very helpful. Let’s learn more about this and a big study called the MOSAIC study.

What are Atropine Eye Drops?

Atropine eye drops are special drops that can help slow down the growth of the eyeball, which helps control myopia. These drops are used in very tiny amounts, like 0.01% or 0.05%.

The MOSAIC Study

The MOSAIC study is a big research project that looked at how well atropine eye drops work in kids, especially in Europe. This study included kids aged 6 to 16 years and lasted for three years. 

Key Findings:

Slowing Down Myopia

• Axial Length (AL): The study found that kids using the atropine eye drops had slower growth of their eyeballs. This is good because it means their myopia was not getting worse as fast.
• Spherical Equivalent (SE): Although there wasn't a huge difference in how clearly the kids could see far away things, the slower eyeball growth is still a positive sign.

Who Benefited the Most?

• Eye Color: The drops worked best in kids with lighter-colored eyes, like blue eyes, compared to kids with darker-colored eyes, like brown eyes.
• COVID-19 Impact: Interestingly, kids who started using the drops after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted showed even better results. This might be because they spent more time outside and less time on screens.

Are the Drops Safe?
Yes! Outside of slight discomfort in a few cases, most kids in the study didn’t have problems using the eye drops. 


The MOSAIC study shows that using 0.01% atropine eye drops can help slow down myopia in kids, especially if they have lighter-colored eyes. It’s important to keep an eye on your vision and talk to an eye doctor if things start looking blurry. With these eye drops and some healthy habits, we can help keep our eyes healthy and strong.

Remember

• Get Regular Eye Check-ups: It's important to visit the eye doctor regularly.
• Spend Time Outdoors: Playing outside can help keep your eyes healthy.
• Limit Screen Time: Too much screen time can strain your eyes.