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NCT Number: NCT07129889

Auricular Acupressure Reduces Rebound Effects After Discontinuation of Atropine

0.01% atropine is an effective measure for controlling myopia in children and is widely used in Asia for this purpose. However, there is a phenomenon of rebound and worsening of myopia after discontinuation of the medication. Auricular acupressure (AA) is gaining attention as a complementary therapy for myopia control. However, there is a lack of rigorous studies evaluating the effectiveness of AA in reducing rebound after discontinuing atropine eye drops in myopic children. Our study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of AA in reducing rebound after discontinuing atropine in myopic children.

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Key information

Conditions

Myopia Eye Diseases Refractive Errors

Age range

6 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

This study is a randomized, single-blind, three-arm controlled trial. At least 180 participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: the atropine tapering group, the AA group, and the sham auricular acupressure (SAA) group. All treatments will be conducted over 1.5 years, with a 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure is the rate of myopia rebound. Secondary outcome measures include annual growth rate of spherical equivalent (SE), annual growth rate of axial length (AL), annual delay rate of SE, annual delay rate of AL, annual delay rate of SE, annual delay rate of AL, choroidal thickness (ChT), choroidal vascular index (CVI), and choroidal vascular volume (CVV). Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be conducted, with a significance level set at 5%.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Meets the diagnostic criteria for myopia;
  • Age 6-12 years, no gender restrictions;
  • Single or bilateral spherical refractive error between -1.00 and -4.00 D (astigmatism ≤ 1.50 D, anisometropia ≤ 1.50 D);
  • Best-corrected visual acuity in both eyes of 0.20 logMAR or higher;
  • Intraocular pressure (IOP) less than 21 mmHg;
  • Informed consent form signed by a guardian, voluntarily participating.

Exclusion criteria

Patients who meet any of the following criteria will not be eligible to participate in the study:

  • Eye conditions other than refractive errors (e.g., strabismus, amblyopia, keratitis, glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, etc.);
  • Patients with systemic conditions that may affect refractive development (e.g., Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome);
  • Patients with uncontrolled systemic diseases or debilitating conditions, immune deficiencies, or severe primary diseases of the cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, or hematopoietic systems, immune system disorders, or psychiatric conditions;
  • Patients with a history of allergies or hypersensitivity to multiple medications;
  • Patients who have undergone ocular surgery within the past 4 weeks prior to screening;
  • Patients planning to undergo ocular surgery within one year of enrollment;
  • Patients who have participated in other drug clinical trials within the past 3 months prior to screening; Patients who are unable to cooperate with treatment, observation, and assessment.

Treatment and study plan

gradual withdrawal of medication

Drug

The dose was reduced by one day each month, ultimately reducing atropine treatment from seven days per week to complete withdrawal within six months, with a six-month follow-up.

Auricular acupressure

Procedure

First, treat the ear acupoint on one side, then leave the tape in place for 5 days. On the 6th day, remove the tape, rest for 2 days, and on the 8th day, apply new tape to the other side of the ear. Changing the tape aims to minimize adverse event (AE) that may result from prolonged stimulation on one side. Additionally, participants will be instructed to self-administer vertical pressure on the Wangbuluxing seeds 15-20 times to achieve sensation, with a duration of 4-5 times daily. The treatment process will last for 18 months, with a follow-up at 6 months.

Sham Auricular Acupressure

Procedure

Acupuncturists will use a gradual reduction method with 0.01% atropine eye drops, as used in the control group, and apply skin-colored adhesive tape without Wang Bu Liu Xing seeds to the ear acupoints. During treatment, no massage or acupoint pressure will be applied. The SAA group will follow the same protocol as the AA group for compensatory AA treatment at the end of the study.

Primary outcomes

  1. Myopia Rebound Rate

    Time frame: Statistical analysis was performed at 3 months and 6 months after dose reduction, and at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The myopia rebound rate is defined as the ratio of the number of individuals experiencing myopia rebound to the total number of individuals in each group. The rebound effect is defined as the rate of myopia progression after discontinuation of treatment exceeding the rate observed during the treatment phase. The rebound effect is assessed based on changes in AL or SE. To enable direct comparison, all data were standardized to an annual rate (mm/y or D/y) by dividing the change in SE or AL by the duration of follow-up (y).

    Myopia relapse rate = number of relapses / total number of participants × 100%

Secondary outcomes

  1. spherical equivalent annual growth(SEA)

    Time frame: The measurement method is the same as above, with three consecutive measurements taken and the average calculated. Measurements are taken at 3, 6, and 9 months after intervention, 3 and 6 months after dose reduction, and 1, 3, and 6 months after disconti

    SE annual growth is defined as the annualized amount of SE after ciliary muscle paralysis.

    SE annual growth = SE change value / follow-up duration (y)

  2. Axial length annual growth(ALA)

    Time frame: Measurements are taken at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after intervention, 3 months and 6 months after dose reduction, and 1 month, 3 m

    The annual growth rate of AL is the annualized value of AL.The measurement method involves taking five consecutive measurements and calculating the average value.

    Annual growth rate of AL = Change in AL value / Follow-up duration (y)

  3. SE year delay amount

    Time frame: Measurements are taken at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after intervention, 3 months and 6 months after dose reduction, and 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The SE delay is defined as the difference between the annual change in SE in the AA group, SAA group, and atropine withdrawal group after ciliary muscle paralysis.

    SE delay = |control group SEA - experimental group SEA|

  4. AL year delay amount

    Time frame: Measurements are taken at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after intervention, 3 months and 6 months after dose reduction, and 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The AL-year delay is defined as the difference between the AL-year change in the AA group, SAA group, and atropine gradual withdrawal group.

    AL-year delay = |control group ALA - experimental group ALA|

  5. SE year delay rate

    Time frame: Measurements are taken at 6 months, and 12 months after intervention, 6 months after dose reduction, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The SE annual delay rate is defined as the ratio of the SE annual delay amount to the SE annual change amount in the control group multiplied by 100%.

    SE annual delay rate = SE annual delay amount / SE annual change amount in the control group * 100%

  6. AL year delay rate

    Time frame: Measurements are taken at 6 months, and 12 months after intervention, 6 months after dose reduction, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The AL annual delay rate is defined as the ratio of the AL annual delay amount to the AL annual change amount in the control group multiplied by 100%.

    AL annual delay rate = AL annual delay amount / AL annual change amount in the control group * 100%

  7. choroidal thickness (ChT)

    Time frame: Measurements were taken at the start of the trial, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the intervention, 3 and 6 months after dose reduction, and 1, 3, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The Sub-Surface Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SS-OCTA) system employs Deep Layer™ artificial intelligence for layered measurement of choroidal thickness. Choroidal thickness measurement in the macular region: The macular region of the examined eye is designated as the scanning area, with the fovea centralis as the center, and a radial scan is performed in an ETDRS concentric circle pattern. Choroidal thickness is automatically calculated by the system. In the magnified OCTA image, measurements are taken below the fovea centralis, with nine regions-temporal, nasal, superior, inferior, superior temporal, inferior nasal, inferior temporal, and superior nasal-within the 0-3mm, 0-6mm, and 0-9mm ranges of the macula. The system automatically calculates the average choroidal thickness across the three ranges.

  8. choroidal vascular index (CVI)

    Time frame: Measurements were taken at the start of the trial, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the intervention, 3 and 6 months after dose reduction, and 1, 3, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The measurement method for choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular volume uses B-scan mode, with a 9.00 × 9.00 mm vascular OCT scan centered on the fovea of each eye. The system automatically identifies the choroidal vascular structure, reconstructs the choroidal vascular morphology, and quantifies the choroidal vascular volume and vascular index. The vascular index and vascular index within the ETDRS ring range of 0-3 mm, 0-6 mm, and 0-9 mm are measured.

  9. choroidal vascular volume (CVV)

    Time frame: Measurements were taken at the start of the trial, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the intervention, 3 and 6 months after dose reduction, and 1, 3, and 6 months after discontinuation of medication.

    The measurement method for choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular volume uses B-scan mode, with a 9.00 × 9.00 mm vascular OCT scan centered on the fovea of each eye. The system automatically identifies the choroidal vascular structure, reconstructs the choroidal vascular morphology, and quantifies the choroidal vascular volume and vascular index. The vascular index and vascular index within the ETDRS ring range of 0-3 mm, 0-6 mm, and 0-9 mm are measured.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Zengfang Yu

CONTACT

[email protected]

+8615267893682

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ningbo Eye Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Efficacy and Safety of Auricular Acupressure for Reducing the Rebound Phenomenon in Myopic Children After Discontinuing 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops: A Three-Arm, Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 19, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 19, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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