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: > 0.05). CONCLUSION: 0.01% atropine combined with 2% carteolol hydrochloride safely and effectively inhibits myopia progression in children with early-onset myopia.