Possible Role of Peripheral Retinal Contrast in the Antimyopic Effect of Atropine

The efficacy of atropine in preventing myopia progression is now well established, but its mechanism of action remains uncertain. Beyond its classical effect of accommodative paralysis, it is proposed here that atropine may exert an indirect optico-biological action by modifying the light contrast at the back of the eye through changes in corneal curvature and peripheral defocus. This alteration of peripheral retinal contrast could influence local signals regulating axial eye growth.

Keywords: myopia, atropine, retinal contrast, peripheral defocus, dopamine