Instilling some eye drops can alleviate the development of myopia in children. In recent years, many parents have regarded atropine sulfate eye drops as a "good medicine" to relieve their children's myopia. Recently, a domestic product, 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops, was approved for marketing and attracted attention. What exactly are atropine sulfate eye drops? What is its function?
Reporter Du Chunna and intern Li Luhan
The first "National Drug Approval" batch number
Atropine sulfate eye drops launched
On March 11, the official website of the State Food and Drug Administration announced that atropine sulfate eye drops produced by Shenyang Xingqi Eye Medicine Co., Ltd. had been approved for marketing on March 5. It is reported that this drug can be used to delay the progression of myopia in children aged 6 to 12 years old with a spherical lens power of -1.00D to -4.00D (astigmatism ≤1.50D, anisometropia ≤1.50D).
According to the "Xingqi Eye Health" public account, 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops have been used to prevent and control myopia in Singapore, Japan, India, etc. for nearly 20 years. It has been verified by tens of thousands of myopic children for many years of real-world clinical use and has good results. safety and effectiveness.
The reporter learned that the atropine sulfate eye drops produced by Shenyang Xingqi Eye Medicine Co., Ltd. was approved for marketing this time, becoming the first atropine sulfate eye drops to obtain the "National Drug Approval" batch number. There is no myopia-related adaptation in China. Similar products for the disease were approved. Previously, only Shenyang Xingqi Eye Hospital, Shanghai Fudan University Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, and Shandong Eye Hospital had been approved for use of this eye drop as a "medical institution preparation".
It has been approved for marketing. Where can patients in need purchase it? According to the customer service staff of Shenyang Xingqi Eye Hospital Internet Hospital, on March 25, atropine sulfate eye drops were officially launched in the mini program-"Shenyang Xingqi Eye Hospital Internet Hospital". Patients need to upload prescriptions, diagnoses, intraocular pressure orders and optometry orders within three months in the "Online Consultation" section of the mini program. The medicine can be prescribed only after the doctor reviews it. "The medicine is 298 yuan per box, and a box of 30 pills lasts for 30 days. The specific dosage needs to be followed the doctor's advice."
At the same time, according to the customer service staff, in addition to online purchases at Internet hospitals, they can also be purchased offline at Xingqi Eye Hospital. “If patients are far away, they can purchase online. After the doctor approves, we can use express delivery. "Customer service said that in the past few days since it went online, more patients have inquired, and the online line has been relatively busy, so you need to wait for a while to purchase medicines. Asked when it would be promoted to other parts of the country, the customer service representative said that they have this plan, but the specific time has not yet been determined.
Originally used to dilate pupils
Later used to control myopia
The 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops, which has been dubbed the "miracle drug for myopia", has been sought after by many parents of teenagers. In the past, people often purchased this drug on their behalf. Is this "miracle medicine" available in Jinan? On March 25, reporters visited many offline pharmacies in Jinan and found no trace of the drug.
A staff member of a well-known chain pharmacy on Sanda South Road in Jinan City told reporters that the drug was not available in their home or other stores. "Our company has never purchased this drug before." A staff member of a pharmacy in Lixia District told reporters after checking relevant drug records that their company did not have this eye drop.
Although many offline pharmacies do not sell 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops, in fact, as early as November 2021, Shandong Provincial Eye Hospital’s 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops was the first 0.01% approved in Shandong Province. In-hospital preparations of atropine sulfate eye drops have begun to be used.
According to the staff of Shandong Provincial Eye Hospital, patients need to go to the hospital to make an appointment first, and the doctor will diagnose whether they can use the drug. "The medicine is 196 yuan per box, with 30 pills per box." The staff member said that currently only their hospital in Shandong Province has the medicine.
What exactly are atropine eye drops? Public information shows that atropine eye drops are mydriatic drugs that can dilate pupils and paralyze cycloplegia. They are used for iridocyclitis, keratitis, scleritis, uveitis, before and after cataract surgery, and for mydriatic optometry in children. , pseudomyopia and other examinations and treatments.
Sun Wei, director of the Optometry Center of the Eye Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that atropine was originally used to dilate mydriasis, mainly for children. "After dilating mydriasis with 1% atropine, we can perform more accurate refraction and determine the true degree of myopia, farsightedness, astigmatism, etc., and we can also accurately determine whether there are some fundus diseases." Sun Wei said that he later discovered through research , in addition to dilating mydriasis, 1% atropine has the effect of controlling myopia and delaying the development of myopia, but at the same time, it also has very obvious side effects. Children with dilated pupils will develop symptoms such as blurring and photophobia, and once the medication is stopped, myopia will rebound significantly.