Beyond mild myopia: a pilot randomized trial of 0.01% atropine in school-aged children with myopia ≤ -4.50 D.

Baseline spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -11.02 to -4.50 D.

Mean axial length elongation was +0.40 ± 0.18 mm/year under control and +0.34 ± 0.18 mm/year under atropine, with an adjusted difference of -0.05 mm/year (95% CI, -0.11 to +0.00; p = 0.065; 14% inhibition).

Treatment-by-period interactions were not significant for either spherical equivalent refraction or axial length, but rebound could not be excluded given the small sample size.