The first "miracle drug for myopia" in China has been approved for sale! Please note that it can't be used just because you are myopic

The latest information on the official website of the National Medical Products Administration shows that Xingqi Eye Medicine's atropine sulfate eye drops (SQ-729) has recently obtained a drug approval certificate for use in delaying the progression of myopia in children.

On the evening of the 11th, Xingqi Eye Pharmaceutical issued an announcement stating that atropine sulfate eye drops have been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration for use in alleviating the progression of myopia in children aged 6 to 12 years with a spherical diopter of -1.00D to -4.00D (astigmatism ≤1.50D, anisometropia ≤1.50D).

Low-concentration atropine sulfate eye drops, known as the "miracle drug for myopia", are ophthalmic preparations with atropine sulfate as the active ingredient and are improved new drugs. Currently, there are many similar drugs under development in the world and my country. The drug approved by Xingqi Eye Drops this time is not only the first in my country, but also the first drug of its kind approved in the world for clinical control trials.

China is a country with a high rate of myopia. The "White Paper on China's Eye Health" released by the National Health Commission shows that in 2018, the overall myopia rate among children and adolescents in my country reached 53.6%, and the number of people with myopia over the age of 5 has been increasing year by year in recent years.

Public data shows that low-concentration atropine eye drops are a type of ciliary muscle paralytic eye drops. In addition to its mydriasis function, it is often called a "miracle drug for myopia" on social platforms. According to an article written by the Department of Pharmacy of Changzhou First People's Hospital, Jiangsu Province in September 2022, the mechanism of atropine in preventing and controlling myopia is not through the relaxation and regulation of the ciliary muscle, but through the neurotransmitter pathway, or by inducing differential expression of scleral genes.

How can the "miracle drug for myopia" be used to achieve better preventive effects? What is the best way to treat myopia? Let's talk about it.

Low concentration atropine eye drops are suitable for people

Atropine is a non-selective muscarinic receptor (M receptor) antagonist, which is mainly used in clinical practice for mydriasis optometry, treatment of iridocyclitis, etc.

His trial population is as follows:

1. Age

It is used for myopic people aged 4 to adolescence, with or without astigmatism. The current literature reports that the age of the user is 4 to 16 years old. For children under 6 years old, the use of the drug requires more stringent monitoring and follow-up.

2. Myopia diopter and growth

Children with myopia of 50 degrees or above after mydriasis, or with an annual increase in axial length of more than 0.3 mm, and those with risk factors for rapid progression of myopia (such as a family history of high myopia, early onset age, and high initial myopia refractive power) can receive early intervention.

3. Compliance

They can understand the mechanism of action and actual effects of low-concentration atropine eye drops, have good compliance, and can go for follow-up visits in a timely and regular manner as required.

4. Contraindications

It is contraindicated for people who are allergic to scopolamine, suffer from glaucoma or have a tendency to glaucoma, suffer from craniocerebral trauma, or have heart disease. It should be used with caution by people with low accommodation and low pigmentation (such as albinism). Some eye diseases accompanied by photophobia (such as keratitis) can be used after recovery.

How to use low concentration atropine

1. Frequency of medication:

Apply 1 drop once a day into the conjunctival sac before bedtime. Follow up and control the situation, and adjust the time and frequency of application of the medicine according to the doctor's advice.

2. How to apply medicine

1) Clean your hands;

2) Tilt your head back;

3) Gently pull open the lower eyelid with your fingers, look upward, and drop one drop of eye drops into the lower conjunctival sac (the conjunctiva between the lower eyelid and the lower eyeball);

4) Immediately press the inner corner of the eye (inner canthus), then gently close your eyes and rest for about 5 minutes. (Pressing the inner corner of the eye is very important! The purpose is to allow as much of the drug solution as possible to remain on the surface of the eyeball to exert its therapeutic effect, maximize the efficacy of the drug, reduce the drug absorption by the nasolacrimal duct system, and reduce possible other side effects.)

5) If your child goes to bed late, you can choose to use it between 8 and 9 o'clock that night. It will not affect close learning and reading.

3. Use cycle

Almost all drugs need to be used scientifically and in a standardized manner according to the doctor's instructions in order to maximize the positive effects of the drug, and atropine is no exception. Once the drops are applied, they must be used regularly and for a long time. It is recommended to continue the use for 2 years or until the child reaches 16 years old, and continue to monitor the changes in the degree during the withdrawal period.

Can atropine be used as soon as myopia is discovered?

Many parents heard that atropine can effectively prevent and control myopia, so they immediately gave it to their children. We must make it clear that the main function of atropine is to "prevent" and "control" myopia, and it does not have the ability to reverse and treat myopia. Those who need to use atropine are those children whose eye axis grows too fast.

It is recommended that children who have just been diagnosed with myopia have their axial length checked at least once every three months on the basis of optical correction (fitting glasses) and improved eye habits, and determine whether to use atropine based on changes in the axial length.

Before purchasing, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist. Only after the doctor's diagnosis and evaluation can you purchase and use it according to the doctor's advice.

Teenagers should maintain healthy eye habits

Experts say that myopia is generally divided into two categories, one is simple myopia and the other is pathological myopia. Among them, pathological myopia develops very quickly and can exceed 600 degrees, which is often related to genetics. But now most people's myopia is caused by the environment. Therefore, the country now attaches great importance to the problem of myopia among children and adolescents, and it is necessary to reduce children's homework, increase outdoor activities, and carry out comprehensive prevention and treatment.

Drugs such as atropine eye drops cannot reverse myopia. Children and adolescents should protect their eyes by developing good reading and writing habits, reducing dependence on electronic products, and resting their eyes. We call for multi-dimensional and life-cycle attention to the prevention and control of myopia. Parents and children are also requested to start by changing bad habits, increasing effective outdoor activities, ensuring sleep time, and striving to stay away from myopia, so that myopia occurs later and progresses more slowly.

Compiled by Lai Tianying

Source: Beijing Time, Healthy China, China News Network, Dingxiangyuan, China Myopia Prevention and Control, etc.