METHODS: Totally 185 children aged 6-12y with binocular myopia of 3.0 D or less in both eyes were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The atropine group (n=125) received one drop of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel in each eye before bedtime daily. The control group included 60 matched children without drug intervention during the same period. The spherical equivalent and axial length was recorded at baseline and the sixth month of treatment. The efficacy was evaluated by the change of the spherical equivalent and axial length. Adverse events were also recorded.

    RESULTS: The average spherical equivalent and axial length at baseline were not statistically significant between the atropine group (-1.64¡À0.80 D, 24.13¡À0.76 mm) and the control group (-1.59¡À0.94 D, 24.06¡À0.77 mm, P>0.05). After 6mo, there was significantly difference in the spherical equivalent progression between the atropine and the control group (-0.27¡À0.33 vs -0.60¡À0.35 D, P<0.001), with a relative reduction of 55.0% in myopia progression. The increase in axial elongation in the atropine group was significantly less than control group (0.19¡À0.14 vs 0.26¡À0.14 mm, P<0.001), with a relative reduction of 26.9% in axial length. The 84.4% and 38.4% of the eyes progressed by less than 0.50 D and remained stable in the atropine group, compared with 51.7% and 4.2% in the control group. No adverse events were observed.

    CONCLUSION: Atropine sulphate eye gel 0.01% can slow down myopia progression and axial elongation in children with a 6-month treatment.