Atropine is increasingly being used for myopia management, however uncertainty remains over dosage, side effects, and whether or not it should be combined with refractive interventions.
In this free webinar – The efficacy of atropine in the management of myopia – hosted by mivision, ophthalmologists Dr Loren Rose and Dr Shanel Sharma, and clinical researcher Associate Professor Pauline Kang will present on personalisation of treatment, key considerations for discontinuing atropine, and how eye care practitioners can maximise treatment benefit while managing glare, photophobia and near blur. The event will be moderated by experienced optometrist and optometric educator, Andrew Kotsos.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how atropine dosage can be personalised to manage efficacy and side effects,
- Be aware of strategies to maximise treatment benefit, and
- Understand considerations for discontinuing atropine.
Register Here
The efficacy of atropine in the management of myopia webinar will take place on Tuesday 11 August from 6.30pm-8pm AEST.
This free event is accredited in Australia by the Optometry Australia’s Institute of Excellence for 1.5T hours and 1.5G in New Zealand by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board.
What You’ll Learn
Presentation 1. Atropine dose escalation: Tailoring your myopia management to your patient
Topical low-dose atropine (0.005% to 0.05%) shows a clear, concentration-dependent efficacy in slowing myopia progression and axial elongation in children, however with this comes dose-response side effects. The three main concerns are glare resulting from pupil dilation, near blur due to loss of accommodation, and rebound when treatment is stopped prematurely.
In this presentation, Dr Rose explores how myopia treatment can now be personalised – adjusting the dose to achieve the desired response while minimising side effects. Choosing the right dosage and deciding whether to combine it with refractive interventions are key elements of tailored myopia management.
Presentation 2. Rebound: current evidence and strategies for long term success
Atropine is increasingly prescribed in clinical practice for myopia control, with additional concentrations of 0.025% and 0.05% now commercially available in Australia. While initiating atropine treatment is an important aspect of myopia management, understanding when and how to cease atropine treatment is also critical. In this presentation, Assoc Prof Kang will discuss key considerations for discontinuing atropine including when treatment discontinuation may be appropriate, how to identify and monitor potential rebound following cessation, and current evidence-based strategies that may help minimise rebound and support long-term atropine treatment outcomes
Presentation 3. Maximise outcomes and minimise side effects
Myopia control is not simply about reducing dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Its real purpose is to slow axial length progression and reduce the long-term risk of myopia-related ocular complications, including retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma and cataract. Low-dose atropine is now an important part of modern myopia management, and varying concentrations and dosing options are one of the evolving frontiers in care. Dr Sharma will discuss how eye care practitioners can maximise treatment benefit while managing glare, photophobia and near blur. Her presentation will also consider UV eye protection, polarised sunglasses, outdoor activity, time-of-day dosing, treatment adherence and rebound after cessation.
About the Speakers
Dr Loren Rose BSc (HONS) MBBS (HONS) FRANZCO PhD completed her ophthalmology training at the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. She then undertook a fellowship in paediatric ophthalmology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. In 2021, she completed her PhD titled Myopia Progression in Children.
Dr Rose holds academic appointments as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra, where she lectures and contributes to research. She is also actively involved in ophthalmic training through her Visiting Medical Officer position at Bankstown Hospital and as a Staff Specialist at Westmead Children’s Hospital.
Dr Shanel Sharma BSc MBBS, FRANZCO, is a paediatric and strabismus subspecialist ophthalmologist at Eye & Laser Surgeons in Sydney. She completed fellowship training in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at Moorfields Eye Hospital, followed by further fellowship training in adult strabismus at the Western Eye Hospital, London. Prior to returning to Sydney, she worked as a Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist at St Mary’s Hospital, London.
Dr Sharma’s clinical expertise spans childhood eye disease, amblyopia, paediatric refractive error, strabismus, and the use of botulinum toxin injections for selected strabismus cases. Beyond her clinical work, she manages eye health in professional cricketers through her roles with Cricket New South Wales and Cricket Australia. She is also the co-founder of Beamers, a children’s sunglasses brand promoting UV eye protection and healthy outdoor activity.
Associate Professor Pauline Kang BOptom PhD is a clinical researcher at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Australia. Her research focuses on childhood myopia, encompassing the mechanisms underlying myopia development and strategies to slow its progression in children.
Assoc Professor Kang has led myopia clinical trials, including collaborative projects with international research groups. She has also contributed to the development of clinical guidelines through the International Myopia Institute (IMI), and continues to provide updates on advances in the field through the annual IMI Digest publications.
Andrew Kotsos BOptom PGCertOcTher is the founder and Managing Director of eyedea Consulting, and a recognised leader in Australian optometric education and continuing professional development. His experience spans content curation and the delivery of organisation-led education across a range of formats and channels.
Mr Kotsos brings broad expertise in clinical practice, accreditation and quality assurance, professional development, and learning design, complemented by strong strategic and commercial acumen. He provides professional consultancy services to local, regional, and international clients, supporting them in meeting project deliverables and organisational goals.
