To investigate and compare the cycloplegic effect of cyclopentolate, compound topicamide and atropine in children with different ages, refractive status and accommodative esotropia.

This prospective clinical study had been conducted at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between September 2018 and September 2019 in 283 children (566 eyes) of 3-12 years old with refractive error. All the children were given 1% atropine to obtain the refractive diopter, and they were randomly divided into group A and group B. The two group are divided into 3-<6 years old group and 6-<12 years old group according to age. The 3-<6 years old group and the 6-<12 years old group are divided into three subgroups: The myopia group without esotropia, the hyperopia group without esotropia and the esotropia group. After 5 weeks, pupil size and light reflex back to normal. Group A received 1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride eye drops for computer optometry, and group B received 0.5% compound tropicamide eye drops for computer optometry. The Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to statistically analyze the difference of spherical equivalent of computer optometry before and after 1% atropine, and the difference of computer optometry after different cycloplegia.

The SE after 1% atropine was greater than before 1% atropine, the difference of SE was 1.75(1.00-2.75)D, and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-20.62, P<0.001). The difference was more obvious children with aged 3 to 6, children with hyperopia and children with esotropia (P<0.001). In group A, the SE after using 1% atropine was greater than that after using 1% cyclopentolate, and the difference of SE was 0.25(0.13-0.50)D (Z=-11.49, P<0.001). The difference of SE in 3-<6 years old group after using 1% atropine and 1% cyclopentolate in the myopia group without esotropia, hyperopia group without esotropia and esotropia group were 0.25(0.25-0.25)D, 0.38(0.25-0.50)D, 0.50(0.38-0.75)D (Z=-3.34, -7.36, -4.95, all P<0.001). The difference of SE of that 3 subgroups in the 6-<12 years group were 0(0-0.12)D, 0.25(0.12-0.25)D, 0.44(0.28-0.69)D (Z=-0.83, P=0.405; Z=-5.30, P<0.001;Z=-3.53, P<0.001). In group B, the SE after using 1% atropine was greater than that after using 0.5% compound tropicamide, and the difference of SE was 0.25(0.13-0.50)D (Z=-15.46, P<0.001). The difference of SE in 3-<6 years old group after using 1% atropine and 0.5% compound tropicamide in the myopia group without esotropia, hyperopia group without esotropia and esotropia group were 0.25(0.19-0.25)D, 0.38(0.25-0.75)D, 0.69(0.30-1.03)D (Z=-3.15, P=0.002; Z=-9.89, P<0.001;Z=-4.79, P<0.001). The difference of SE of that 3 subgroups in the 6-<12 years group were 0(0-0.12)D, 0.32(0.13-0.38)D, 0.50(0.41-0.50)D (Z=-1.37, P=0.171; Z=-7.15, P<0.001;Z=-4.37, P<0.001).

The spherical equivalent of mydriasis refraction with 1% cyclopentolate eye drops or 0.5% compound tropicamide eye drops is similar to that with 1% atropine in myopic children aged 6 to 12 years without esotropia, and it is different from that with 1% atropine in 3-<6 years old children and children with hyperopia and esotropia at 6-<12 years old.

cyclopentolate; compound topicamide; atropine; cycloplegia