Low-concentration atropine eye drops are well tolerated and slow the progression of short-sightedness in UK children, according to a new study.

Researchers found that daily low-dose atropine resulted in modest reductions in myopia progression and axial elongation in children aged six to 12 compared to those given a placebo.

Much of the evidence for atropine has come from children in Asia, while studies in Western populations have produced less consistent results (Lawrenson et al, 2025).

Led by Professor Augusto Azuara-Blanco, from Queen’s University Belfast, the CHAMP-UK trial team gave once-daily 0.01% atropine or placebo drops to 289 children at five UK centres with myopia of –0.5D to –10D.

After adjusting for baseline myopia, study site, age, ethnicity, and parental myopia, atropine reduced myopia progression by 0.33D over two years compared with placebo. The corresponding reduction in central axial elongation was 0.14mm (Azuara-Blanco et al, 2026). The findings were published in the BMJ.

Children given atropine were more than twice as likely as those taking the placebo to have stable myopia (a change of less than 0.25D) and less than half as likely to have myopia progression of 1D or more over the study period.

There were no differences in the frequency of side effects such as sore eyes and blurry vision.

Low-dose atropine eye drops are widely used to control short-sightedness internationally. In November 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorised the UK’s first licensed low-dose atropine treatment, Ryjunea, for children aged three to 14 years meeting specified myopia and progression criteria.