Inhibition of myopia by 0.01% atropine eye drops: minimal doses, visual function and possible biological mechanisms

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About one third of the world population is myopic. Myopie is tightly correlated with the degree of education. Iis prevalence is therefore rising, especially in the industrial nations. High degrees of myopia carry an increased risk of blindness. Atropin eye drops are known to inhibit myopia progression since a long time, although with inacceptable side effects. In recent years, it has been found that also very low doses are effective (0.01%) and that the disadvantages of atropine application may largely disappear. Therefore, also in Germany atropine is increasingly described against myopia progression in children. However, a number of basic questions remain as to (1) what is the minmal effective dose and which atropine solution is most appropriate? (2) what are the effects of low dose atropine on visual functions? (3) through which biological mechanisms can atropine inhibit myopia? These questions will be tackled in the proposed projects.