Who is suitable for 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops (EIKANCE)?

The core purpose of 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops (EIKANCE) is to slow down the progression of myopia in children. It is suitable for clear age groups and has clear application scenarios. It is currently one of the common overseas myopia control solutions. According to its information, EIKANCE’s core target audience is children aged 4 to 14 years old who have myopia and the degree continues to worsen. In particular, children whose myopia increases by -1.0D or more per year are considered a typical suitable group. The axial length of the eyes of these children grows faster and they have a higher probability of developing high myopia. Therefore, early drug intervention can reduce the risk of moderate to severe myopia.

This drug is not a tool to prevent children who are not myopic, but is aimed at "children who are already myopic and have grown too fast." Because the drug uses extremely low concentrations and is well tolerated for long-term use, it is widely recommended as one of the first-line safe choices by global child myopia management agencies. The drop method is once a day, and it is usually recommended to use it before going to bed to reduce light sensitivity discomfort caused by slight mydriasis during the day.

However, not all children are suitable for low-concentration atropine. For example, if a child has anatomical abnormalities, such as narrow anterior chamber angle, risk of glaucoma, high intraocular pressure, or a strong tendency to glaucoma in the family, the risk needs to be assessed by an ophthalmologist before use. In addition, children who are sensitive to atropine itself or its ingredients and who have experienced allergic reactions should not use it. Since drugs can cause slight pupil dilation and reduced accommodation ability, children with extremely high reading burdens and heavy learning needs professional doctors to evaluate whether they need to adjust the reading light or cooperate with other solutions such as optical lenses.

From a clinical practice perspective,The most common beneficiaries of EIKANCE are young children who have just experienced rapid myopia growth. Early intervention at this stage can help slow down the progression curve of myopia. Studies indicate that higher concentrations (such as 0.05%) of atropine may have a stronger myopia control effect, but the side effects are also more obvious.

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