1% atropine is typically used (and is FDA-approved) for achieving a very effective and long-lasting dilation. It has also been shown to have a very stabilizing effect on myopia, but the side effects (severe light sensitivity and very blurry near vision) at this high concentration were not tolerable. However, at much lower concentrations (0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%), it still helps to slow the elongation of the eyeballs in young, developing eyes, with minimal side effects. Thus, it slows the progression of myopia. The exact mechanism is not entirely understood, but it is believed that atropine causes a thickening of the choroidal tissue in the back of the eyes, and this has a stabilizing effect. By reducing myopic progression now, we reduce the risk of developing potentially serious eye diseases later on in life, such as myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachments.