Evaluating Baseline Data in Clinical Trials—Can I Apply the Results?

In this invited commentary, the author discusses the results of a randomized clinical trial comparing the use of 0.01 atropine drops with placebo for myopia progression in children with both myopia and intermittent exotropia (IXT). The effectiveness of 0.01 atropine in slowing myopic progression is still controversial, as previous studies have reported conflicting results. The author highlights the importance of understanding the baseline characteristics of the study cohort, particularly the control scores for IXT, which assess the severity and variability of the deviation. The author questions the unusual distribution of control scores in the study by Wang et al., where a higher proportion of children had a control score of 2 compared to previously published cohorts. This raises concerns about the generalizability of the study's conclusion that 0.01 atropine drops have no meaningful effect on IXT. The author suggests that further investigation is needed to better understand the baseline characteristics and outcomes of children with IXT.