Abstract

Strabismus in children is a common condition that can lead to significant visual disturbances and social stigma if not effectively managed. In this study, we explored the use of atropine sulfate for its potential to stabilize ocular alignment following corrective interventions in pediatric strabismus. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 80 pediatric patients with congenital strabismus, divided into two groups; one receiving daily atropine eye drops (n=40) and a control group (n=40) that did not receive atropine. Over 3 y, we assessed the stability of ocular alignment and the necessity for additional interventions at intervals of 1 mo, 6 mo, and annually. The atropine group demonstrated significantly better ocular alignment stability over the study period. Initial mean deviations were 25.0 prism diopters in the atropine group and 24.5 prism diopters in the control group. By the end of the study, these figures had improved to 6.0 prism diopters and 10.0 prism diopters, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (F-value=32.5, p<0.0001). Furthermore, the need for additional interventions was dramatically lower in the atropine group (17.5 %) compared to the control group (50 %), with statistical significance (χ2=13.44, p=0.0002). Adverse effects such as pupillary dilation, photophobia, blurry vision and allergic reactions were slightly more prevalent in the atropine group but did not reach statistical significance. Our findings support the use of atropine as a beneficial adjunct in the management of pediatric strabismus, promoting improved stability of ocular alignment with fewer additional interventions. Atropine could thus be considered an effective treatment option in the comprehensive care of children with strabismus.