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Patient instructions

Atropine Eye Drops Patient Instructions

These instructions are for compounded low-dose atropine eye drops, most often prescribed to slow the progression of nearsightedness (myopia) in children. The drops are usually given once nightly at bedtime, at a strength chosen by your eye doctor. Available by prescription only.

At bedtime, every night

Low-dose atropine is usually given nightly at bedtime, so any temporary blur or light sensitivity happens during sleep.

The strength is the therapy

These drops are compounded at the exact low strength your eye doctor chose (commonly 0.01% to 0.05%). Strengths are adjusted at follow-up visits — never assume a refill is the same as a friend’s bottle.

Expect follow-ups

Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will recheck the prescription regularly. Keep those appointments — they decide whether the strength changes.

How to Instill the Drops

  1. 1Wash your hands.
  2. 2Shake the bottle gently if the label says to, and warm it in your hands for a moment — room-temperature drops are more comfortable.
  3. 3Have your child lie down or tilt their head back. Gently pull the lower eyelid down to make a small pocket.
  4. 4Squeeze one drop into the pocket without letting the bottle tip touch the eye, lashes, or skin.
  5. 5Have them close the eye gently (not squeezed shut) for about a minute. Pressing a clean finger lightly on the inner corner of the eye, beside the nose, keeps more of the drop in the eye and less in the body.
  6. 6Repeat in the other eye if prescribed for both, then wash your hands again.

If You Miss a Dose

  • These drops are usually given once nightly, at bedtime.
  • If you miss a night, just continue the next night. Do not give two doses to catch up.
  • Consistency over weeks matters more than any single missed night — myopia control is a long-term therapy.

What to Expect

  • Mild light sensitivity, especially outdoors the next morning at higher strengths. Sunglasses or a hat help.
  • Slightly blurry near vision in some children, usually at higher strengths.
  • A brief sting when the drop goes in — this settles in seconds.
  • These effects are most noticeable in the first week or two and usually fade.

Storage

Follow the storage line on the pharmacy label — some strengths are kept in the refrigerator and others at room temperature. Keep the bottle tightly capped, away from light, and out of reach of children. Compounded sterile drops have short dating; discard at the beyond-use date.

When to Call

  • Light sensitivity or near blur is interfering with school — the prescriber may adjust the strength.
  • You are not sure whether the drop actually got in (a second drop right away is usually fine for these — confirm once with us for your strength).
  • The bottle is running low — compounded drops are prepared to order and have short dating, so plan refills about a week ahead.
  • Eye redness, discharge, or pain — those are not expected effects; contact your eye doctor.