Low-dose atropine for myopia control in children: Indian evidence reviewed

A growing public health problem. Myopia is increasingly prevalent among school-aged children in India, and early-onset myopia is associated with rapid progression and a higher lifetime risk of vision-threatening complications such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and early cataract. Low-dose atropine has emerged as an effective pharmacological option for controlling myopia progression, but whether global evidence applies to Indian children requires careful evaluation. This structured narrative review searched five databases (January 2005–October 2025) and assessed study quality with Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

What the evidence shows. Indian studies consistently demonstrate that 0.01% atropine reduces myopia progression by approximately 50%–65% with minimal adverse effects, and higher concentrations such as 0.05% provide greater efficacy at the cost of slightly increased mild ocular side effects. All reported adverse events were mild (e.g., photophobia and blurred near vision), with no treatment discontinuation or systemic effects. These findings align with major international trials including ATOM and LAMP, supporting low-dose atropine—particularly 0.01%—as an effective, safe, and practical strategy for national myopia-control programs.

The work titled “Low-Dose Atropine for Myopia Control in Children: A Comprehensive Review With Indian Evidence”, was published on Eye & ENT Research (published on July 2, 2026).