J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2023 Oct;64(10):886-891. 10.3341/jkos.2023.64.10.886.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Myopia Progression in Pediatric Patients Treated with Atropine Eyedrops

• Lee G
• Chang M

• KMID: 2546808
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2023.64.10.886

Abstract

Purpose
We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on myopia progression in pediatric patients who received low-dose atropine (0.01%) eye drops.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of pediatric patients who received ≥ 12 months of low-dose atropine (atropine sulfate 0.01%) eye drops for myopia. The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was defined as February 2020. Patients were divided into two groups for comparative analysis. Patients in group A received low-dose atropine for ≥ 12 months between July 2013 and January 2020, whereas patients in group B received low-dose atropine between February 2020 and July 2021; atropine eye drops were administered once daily. The spherical equivalent and axial length of the right eye were measured at the initiation of treatment and after 12 months.
Results
Among the 72 patients, 34 in group A received low-dose atropine before the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas 38 in group B received low-dose atropine after the COVID-19 pandemic. After 12 months of treatment with low-dose atropine eye drops, the changes in spherical equivalent were -0.58 ± 0.47 diopters (D) in group A and -0.84 ± 0.56 D in group B (p = 0.045). Moreover, the changes in axial length were 0.30 ± 0.23 mm in group A and 0.50 ± 0.31 mm in group B (p = 0.011).
Conclusions
The efficacy of low-dose atropine eye drops in pediatric myopia patients has decreased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keyword

Atropine, COVID-19, Myopia