Is 2% Pirenzephine Gel Effective in Slowing the Progression of Myopia in Children Aged 7-12 Years Old?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not 2% pirenzepine gel is effective in slowing the progression of myopia in children aged 7-12 years old? STUDY DESIGN: Systemic review of three primary randomized controlled trials, which were published in 2008, 2004, and 2005. DATA SOURCES: Multicenter, randomized double masked, placebo controlled, randomized controlled trials (RCT) were found using PubMed, COCHRANE, and OVID databases. OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome, slowing of myopia progression, was measured similarly in all three trials. Progression of myopia was measured via changes in refractory status and spherical equivalence specifically defined as \u3e0.75D after 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: In all, the results found that children receiving 2% pirenzepine gel as opposed to placebo did have a decrease in their progression of myopia. In the study Tan et al, it was reported that myopia progression in the gel receiving group was averaged to be 0.47D while the placebo group progressed 0.84D over the one year trial. The study done by Siatkowski et al discovered that after a 2 year trial the group receiving treatment had a slower progression of myopia (0.58D) than the placebo group (0.99D). Overall, pirenzepine was effective in slowing the progression of myopia. CONCLUSION: The results of the three RCT revealed that the use of 2% pirenzepine gel was safe and slowed the progression of myopia when compared to the placebo group