To Investigate the Effect of Combined Use of 0.01% Atropine and 2% Carteolol Hydrochloride Eye Drops on Early-Onset Myopic Control in Western Chinese Children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the inhibitory role of 0.01% atropine combined with 2% carteolol hydrochloride on myopia progression in children aged 3-8 years in western China.

METHODS

A total of 78 myopic children (spherical equivalent refraction from -2.00D to -8.00D) were initially assigned based on parental willingness to a control group (artificial tears (Hialid®) once nightly) or a treatment group. The treatment group was then randomly divided into an atropine group (0.01% atropine + artificial tears) and a combination group (0.01% atropine +2% carteolol hydrochloride). Spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured at baseline and 3, 6 months. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, adjusted by multivariate regression and standardized mean differences (SMD), were applied. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) addressed minor baseline variations. Repeated-measures analysis of variance evaluated ocular parameters across the three groups to assess the effect of IOP-lowering drugs on delaying myopia progression.

RESULTS

Both treatment groups showed significantly reduced SE and AL progression at 3 and 6 months (all p < 0.001). At 6 months, the combination group exhibited significantly smaller AL increase (0.09 ± 0.10 mm) and SE progression (-0.09 ± 0.12 D) than the atropine group (AL: 0.47 ± 0.18 mm; SE: -0.51 ± 0.18 D) and control group (AL: 0.99 ± 0.16 mm; SE: -1.03 ± 0.15 D; all p < 0.001). IOP decreased in the combination group (-1.75 ± 4.24 mmHg) but increased in the other groups. Adverse reaction rates were comparable between groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

0.01% atropine combined with 2% carteolol hydrochloride safely and effectively inhibits myopia progression in children with early-onset myopia.