Comparison of the Clinical Efficacies of 0.01% Atropine and Orthokeratology in Controlling the Progression of Myopia in Children

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacies of 0.01% atropine and orthokeratology (OK) in slowing the development of myopia, and to evaluate their effects on basal tear secretion and tear film stability.Methods: A prospectively, randomised study. A total of 120 children aged 8-14 years with myopia were included; of these, 60 participants were randomly assigned to use spectacles and 0.01% atropine (SA) and the remaining 60 wore OK lenses (OK). Comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations were performed before and after treatment every 3 months.Results: The primary outcomes include the changes of spherical equivalent refraction (SE) and axial length (AL). After one-year, the SE and AL in participants aged ≤10 years were better controlled in the SA in low-myopia group (P < .05), whereas those aged ≥11 years were better controlled in the OK in high-myopia group (P < .05). Secondary outcomes include Schirmer's test and tear film break-up time (TBuT). A statistically significant difference was found in TBuT between the SA and OK in the first 3 months and there was a statistically significant difference in TBuT in the OK between before and after 3 months; however, no statistically significant difference was observed after 6 months.Conclusion: Both 0.01% atropine and OK lenses effectively retarded myopia progression; however, different effects were found in different ages and refractions. 0.01% atropine had no evident effect on Schirmer's test and TBuT results. Furthermore, OK lenses had no effect on Schirmer's test, whereas it had a significant effect on TBuT after only the first 3 months.

Keywords: 0.01% atropine; children; dry eye; myopia progression; orthokeratology.