SCIENTIFIC REPORT Multifocal electroretinogram in children on atropine treatment for myopia

Aim: To assess retinal function by multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) in children on atropine eye drops for the treatment of myopia. Methods: mfERGs were recorded in children receiving atropine eye drops (n = 48) once daily for 2 years and in those receiving placebo eye drops (n = 57) for a similar time. All recordings were performed between the second and third month of cessation of atropine/placebo treatment by a masked investigator. The amplitude and implicit time of the first order kernel (k1) and first slice of the second order kernel (k21) of mfERG responses were used to study the outer and inner retinal function, respectively. Results: There was no significant reduction in k1 response amplitudes of the atropine group compared to that of the placebo group (N1, p = 0.181; P1, p = 0.150). No significant difference in the k1 response implicit times between the groups was found (N1, p = 0.767; P1, p = 0.849). The differences in the k21 amplitudes and implicit times between the groups were not statistically significant (k21 amplitude, p = 0.058; k21 implicit time, p = 0.156). Conclusions: Daily atropine usage over 2 years for the treatment of myopia has no significant effect on retinal function as demonstrated by recordings of mfERG.