Atropine eye drops in strong concentrations (typically 0.5% to 1%) are used to temporarily dilate the pupil of the eye and stop the focussing muscles working in a variety of clinical applications. Atropine eye drops for myopia control, though, are a low-concentration (0.01% to 0.05%) with much fewer such side effects. Side effects can include less clear vision up close (for reading) and more sensitivity to light, both of which can be managed with additional features in spectacle lenses.

With atropine eye drop treatment for myopia control, spectacles or contact lenses are still needed to correct the blurred vision from myopia, as atropine only acts to slow myopia progression

It is important to note that research information changes over time. Back in 2016, atropine 0.01% seemed to be the most effective concentration to slow myopia but then a new study in 2019 showed it wasn't very effective compared to atropine 0.025% or 0.05%. When atropine 0.01% is combined with ortho-k, though, it does appear to have an additive effect to slow myopia progression in some children

There is a lot of new research on atropine eye drops underway, but the current evidence indicates that atropine 0.05% is similarly effective to the best spectacle lens, soft contact lens and ortho-k options for myopia control Atropine 0.025% is slightly less effective but may have lesser side effects in some children.

The effectiveness of atropine for myopia control has been researched in children from age 4 up to 15-16 years. They could be used for longer than this, but have not been researched as such. Evidence for their effectiveness in children younger than 4 or older than 15 to 16 is limited.