Atropine and Ocular Hypotensives in The Control of Myopia.

Abstract Purpose To describe the results of topical atropine 1% weekly combined with a fixed combination of ocular hypotensives (dorzolamide + timolol), versus ocular hypotensives alone, in children and adolescents. Methods A retrospective review of medical records of myopic children and adolescents from September 2003 to June of 2019. The unit of analysis of the data was the change in the magnitude of myopia in a given eye between two consecutive visits (CMCV) and were divided in three groups: “non-adherent”, “hypotensive” and “atropine”, and classified according to the magnitude of myopia progression. Results There were statistically significant differences in the percentages of the CMVC analysis units included in the “completely controlled myopia” classification (higher for the “Atropine” group) and in the “moderate progression” and “severe progression” classifications (lower for the “Atropine” group). Mean progression rate of the CMCV analysis units included in the “atropine” group was significantly lower (-0.13 ± 0.41 Diopters/year) than in the “hypotensives” group (-0.41 ± 0.54 Diopters/year), and in the “non-adherent” group (-0.59 ± 0.57 Diopters/year). Conclusions In a group of myopic children and adolescents in Colombia during the periods of time in which they received 1% atropine, one drop weekly, in combination with dorzolamide + timolol, every 12 hours, showed better control of the progression of myopia, than in the time periods in which they received only ocular hypotensives or were not adherent to pharmacological treatment. Further research is warranted.