First Eye Drops Registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) to Slow the Progression of Short-Sightedness Now Available for Children Aged from 4 to 14 Years oOld
Aspen announced the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) listing of a new medication to slow the progression of short-sightedness (myopia) in children and young teenagers. EIKANCE 0.01% eye drops (atropine sulfate monohydrate 0.01%) are available on prescription for children aged 4 to 14 years, as a treatment to slow the progression of myopia and may be initiated in children when myopia progresses by 1 or more diopters per year.
Myopia, also known as short-sightedness or near-sightedness, is a common condition that causes blurred distance vision and is often detected in childhood. Short-sighted children can often see reasonably clearly at short distances but will not be able to see distant objects clearly for example a classroom whiteboard. Myopia is the most common cause of correctable vision impairment in the developed world, It is estimated that approximately 200,000 Australian children aged 0-14 years are living with short-sightedness.
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There are two main risk factors for a child developing myopia: lifestyle and family history. Modern lifestyles such as low levels of outdoor activity, low levels of exposure to light such as sunlight, and reading and gaming on portable devices for long periods may influence the development of myopia.
There is emerging data indicating that lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to an increase in the incidence of childhood myopia. The likelihood of developing myopia, particularly high myopia, increases when one or both parents have the condition. A survey showed that 91% of Australian parents were not aware of the role excessive screen time could play and 73% did not know that genetics might play a role.
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“The development of myopia is occurring younger in life, with the average onset about eight years old. It has been established that treating myopia in its early stages can slow its progression, which means that parents should seek medical advice from their optometrist as soon as they notice a deterioration in their child’s eyesight. As poor vision can impact a child’s development, we recommend that all children have a full eye examination before starting school, and regularly every two to three years as they progress through primary and secondary school,” said Assoc. Adjunct Prof. Luke Arundel, Chief Clinical Officer at Optometry Australia.
“While myopia cannot be reversed, the goal of treatment is to keep it from progressing to high myopia where there are increased risks of permanent vision loss through glaucoma, cataract and problems with the retina, (the sensory layer at the back of the eye),” said Arundel.
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EIKANCE 0.01% eye drops are available on prescription from community pharmacies in sterile, preservative-free single dose containers, providing parents with a consistent pharmaceutical formulation.
Aspen Asia Pacific CEO, Trevor Ziman, welcomed the approval: “Childhood myopia is an emerging public health concern. We are pleased to be able to provide a low dose atropine eye drop treatment to Australia that has been studied in children and adolescents, 4 to 14 years, to slow the progression of myopia. We are committed to helping manage this common cause of visual impairment in Australian children.”
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