Does Iris Color Affect Atropine?

Overview

A post-hoc meta-analysis suggests that while safety-related ocular effects of low-dose atropine are consistent across different iris colors, treatment efficacy may vary. Children with non-brown irides showed significant myopia progression reduction with atropine 0.01%, while those with brown irides did not.

Background

Low-dose atropine is increasingly used in myopia management among children. Understanding factors that influence its efficacy, such as iris color, is crucial. This analysis provides insights into potential differences in treatment response based on iris pigmentation.

Data Highlights

Group	Atropine Dose	Myopia Progression (D)	Axial Elongation (mm)
Non-brown Irides	0.01%	+0.17	-0.09
Brown Irides	0.01%	No significant effect	Mirrored placebo

Key Findings

Atropine 0.01% reduced myopia progression in children with non-brown irides.
No significant treatment effect was observed in children with brown irides at the same concentration.
Atropine's safety profile was consistent across different iris colors.
Higher concentrations of atropine (0.05%) did not show iris color-related differences in efficacy.
Pharmacokinetics may explain the differential efficacy based on iris color.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should consider the findings regarding iris color and treatment response.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the need for further exploration of individualized atropine dosing based on iris color, although current evidence is exploratory and not yet definitive.

Does Iris Color Affect Atropine?

Meta-analysis examines whether iris color influences atropine 0.01% and 0.05% efficacy in myopia