Is 0.01% Atropine Sulfate Eye Drops (EIKANCE) safe for long-term use?

For parents, the safety of their children from long-term drug use is the biggest concern. 0.01% Atropine Sulfate Eye Drops (EIKANCE) is currently a widely recognized drug for the prevention and control of myopia in the world. Relevant research and clinical observations have accumulated relatively rich experience. Most evidence shows that the drug is safe and well tolerated during long-term use.

Low-concentration atropine is characterized by its mild efficacy and very mild side effects on the eyes, so it can be used continuously for a long time without affecting children's daily life. Many guidelines mention that atropine eye drops can be used for several years according to the development of myopia in children, with dosage adjustments or discontinuation plans under follow-up by a professional doctor. Compared with traditional 1% concentration preparations, which cause obvious problems such as photophobia and accommodation paralysis, 0.01% preparations are more suitable for long-term management and avoid a decrease in compliance due to side effects.

In long-term applications, doctors usually recommend regular follow-up visits, including measurement of axial length, refraction, and fundus examination. This not only assesses the inhibitory effect of the drug, but also detects possible adverse reactions in individual children in a timely manner. Judging from the existing literature, long-term use of EIKANCE will not cause damage to eye structures, nor will it cause systemic side effects, because its local concentration is extremely low and its systemic impact is negligible.

It should be noted that different individuals have different reactions to drugs. Even if some children take atropine, their myopia will continue to progress, but at a slower rate. This does not mean that the drug is unsafe, but it suggests that other prevention and control measures need to be combined, such as increasing outdoor activities and controlling eye habits. Parents should also pay attention to lifestyle intervention while cooperating with drug treatment to achieve the best results.

Reference materials:https://www.eikance.com.au/