Atropine relaxes the eye’s focusing muscles so that they cannot squeeze hard when doing near vision work. Some people have labelled this effect as “botox for the eyes”. Complaints of blurry vision for reading are usually because the child did not adapt certain changes in reading and writing habits. Firstly, materials should not be held too near but at comfortable reading distances from the eyes. If myopia is mild to moderate, parents can remind the child to simply remove glasses to read. Childhood progressive glasses that work pretty much like adult progressive glasses are often prescribed to help in near vision work. When progressive glasses are worn, parents should remind the child to look through the lower portion of the spectacles lens when reading.

Atropine lingers on for up to two weeks in the eyes but after a few days most of the disturbing vision effects would disappear. A bottle of eyedrops can be kept effective for three months if kept clean in the box and stored in a cool place. Many children, when started on atropine therapy will benefit from an initial significant drop in spectacles prescription. It is therefore important to re-visit your eye doctor after a month of atropine therapy to have the spectacles prescription re-checked and if necessary have new glasses made. If new glasses are made, progressive spectacles are usually recommended. If the child is always out in the sun, then photochromic transition progressive lenses can be considered but they will cost more. If progressive lenses are not well tolerated as often is the case in those suffering from high astigmatism or if cost is an issue, then a “two-spectacles” wear strategy can be adopted. This is where the child wears a pair of slightly under-corrected glasses for home and close work and a stronger one for school.