Impact of proxymetacaine on the dynamics of cyclopentolate in White 6- to 7-year-olds

Purpose: This study compared the efficacy of cyclopentolate hydrochloride at 10-, 20- and 30-min post-instillation in White 6- to 7-year-olds, with and without prior instillation of proxymetacaine hydrochloride. The primary aim was to determine if accurate autorefraction values can be obtained sooner than the current standard of 30-min post-cycloplegia. The secondary aim was to investigate whether proxymetacaine hydrochloride enhances the efficiency of cyclopentolate. Methods: Participants were 112 White 6- to 7-year-olds from the Child Eye Health Study. The right eye received 0.5% proxymetacaine hydrochloride and 1.0% cyclopentolate hydrochloride, and the left eye received only 1.0% cyclopentolate hydrochloride. Non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic refractive error (at 0, 10, 20 and 30 min) was measured using a binocular, open-field autorefractometer. Data were analysed through paired t-tests, concordance analysis, linear regression, equivalence testing and Bland–Altman analysis, using the 95% limits of agreement. Results: Mean spherical equivalent refraction (SER) (SD) in the right eye at 0-, 10-, 20- and 30-min post-instillation was 0.62 (1.45) D, 1.52 (1.80) D, 1.64 (1.81) D and 1.72 (1.80) D, respectively. Mean left eye SER (SD) were 0.68 (1.24) D, 1.42 (1.66) D, 1.56 (1.66) D and 1.68 (1.72) D, respectively. Bland–Altman analysis showed a high level of agreement, and equivalence testing confirmed that there was no clinically significant difference in SER at 20 and 30 min in both eyes (within ±0.50 D), with mean differences of 0.08 (0.23) D in the right eye and 0.13 (0.30) D in the left eye (p = 0.21). However, SER at 10 and 30 min were equivalent in the right eye only. Conclusions: Accurate autorefraction values can be obtained 20-min post-instillation of 1.0% cyclopentolate in white children aged 6–7 years, potentially reducing clinical testing times. Proxymetacaine pre-instillation allows for reliable measurements as early as 10-min post-instillation of cyclopentolate. Further research is needed to validate these findings in non-White populations and to determine the safe discharge time post-proxymetacaine instillation.