Longitudinal changes in choroidal thickness and choroidal vascularity index in myopic children treated with 0.01% and 0.05% atropine eye drops every other day: one-year results.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of two different concentrations of atropine eye drops on choroidal thickness (ChT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in a Caucasian child population after one year of treatment.

Methods: The medical records of patients who received atropine eye drops every other day (0.01% and 0.05%) due to myopia progression were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data and ocular biometry were recorded. The ChT (subfoveal, 1000 µm nasal, and 1000 µm temporal) was measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and CVI were assessed with ImageJ software. Comparisons were made between baseline and 1-year data.

Results: Sixty-eight eyes of 34 (25 female, 73.5%) patients were included in the study. The spherical equivalent was significantly increased, whereas axial length and anterior chamber depth changes were not significant. Baseline to one-year changes in ChT, TCA, LA, SA, and CVI were not statistically significant both in all eyes and in 0.01% and 0.05% groups.

Conclusions: Atropine eye drops used at 0.01% and 0.05% doses every other day did not cause a statistically significant change in ChT, TCA, LA, SA, and CVI at the end of 1 year.