Effect of combined use of orthokeratology and atropine eye drops on correction of myopia in young children, and its influencing factors

Purpose: To investigate the corrective effect of combined use of orthokeratology and atropine eye drops on myopia of young children, as well as the factors involved. Methods: 84 young children with adolescent myopia who were admitted to Ningbo First Hospital from March 2019 to January 2021, were enrolled in this study. Forty (40) of the patients were treated with orthokeratology (control group, CG); while 44 patients were treated with a combination of orthokeratology and 0.01 % atropine (study group, EG). Clinical efficacy, pupil diameter, vision recovery, and incidence of adverse reactions were determined in both groups before and after treatment. Based on post-treatment clinical efficacy, patients in markedly effective and effective categories were regarded as improved status, while those whose treatments were ineffective were categorized in unimproved status. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors. Results: There was no significant difference in total treatment effectiveness between the two groups. However, post-treatment diameter of eye axis and axial growth of RG were lower in EG than in CG (p < 0.05). There were no marked differences in naked eye vision and incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age and course of disease were the risk factors that significantly affected treatment effectiveness (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Combined treatment with orthokeratology and atropine eye drops relieves myopia in young children, and early treatment improves treatment effectiveness. However, further clinical trials are required prior to application in clinical practice.