Comparison of the effect of atropine and cyclopentolate on myopia.

We evaluated the effectiveness of cycloplegics in the treatment of myopia. Patients were selected randomly and divided into three groups: Group 1 received atropine 1% eye drops every other night; Group 2 received cyclopentolate 1% eye drops every night; and Group 3 received normal saline eye drops every night. All the patients were rechecked every three months. The results were evaluated at the end of one year. Ninety-six patients were evaluated, 32 in each group. The mean myopic progression was -0.219 D in the atropine group, -0.578D in the cyclopentolate group, and -0.914D in the saline group. Analysis showed that atropine and cyclopentolate are effective in slowing the progression of myopia. The effect of atropine is better than that of cyclopentolate.