A major national study, led by researchers from The Ohio State University and the University of Houston, is underway to understand and potentially prevent the onset of nearsightedness, or myopia, in children. The initiative has secured substantial support through two grants totaling $25 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The research aims to determine if daily atropine eye drops can serve as a preventative measure for myopia in children aged 6 to 11.
The clinical trial is designed to involve over 600 children across the United States. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a low-concentration 0.05% atropine solution or a placebo nightly for a two-year period. Researchers hypothesize that this proactive approach with atropine drops could halve the proportion of children developing myopia, reducing it from an anticipated 20% in the placebo group to 10% in the treatment group. Furthermore, the study anticipates that the atropine treatment will decelerate pre-myopic eye growth by approximately 30% over its duration.
This research builds upon prior findings that suggested atropine's efficacy in slowing myopia progression once it has begun. However, this study uniquely focuses on administering the drug proactively to children identified as being at the highest risk for developing the condition. Children whose farsightedness has diminished to a specific level by third grade are considered at an elevated risk for developing nearsightedness by eighth grade. The eye undergoes its most rapid growth phase just before myopia typically emerges, usually between the ages of 8 and 10, and this progression can continue until around age 16.
Low-dose atropine eye drops, particularly at concentrations of 0.01% to 0.05%, have demonstrated effectiveness in slowing myopia progression with minimal side effects. Atropine works by relaxing the eye's focusing system and influencing chemical signals tied to eye growth, thereby helping to prevent the eyeball from elongating excessively. The 0.05% concentration is a focus for its balance of efficacy and safety.
Myopia is a growing global concern, projected to affect nearly half the world's population by 2050. Factors contributing to this rise include increased screen time and prolonged near-vision tasks, coupled with a decrease in time spent outdoors—trends notably exacerbated by recent lifestyle changes such as those during the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic impact is considerable, with myopia correction costing the U.S. an estimated $4 billion to $7 billion annually. High myopia also poses further risks for vision-threatening conditions like retinal detachment and glaucoma.
This new study extends the pioneering work of researchers such as Jeffrey Walline, David Berntsen, and Lisa Jordan, who previously demonstrated the effectiveness of multifocal contact lenses in slowing myopia progression. As Jeffrey Walline, a co-principal investigator, stated, "Myopia affects such a large number of people, and even if the effects for given individuals aren't particularly bad, if we can save the sight of just a few people, I think it's ultimately very important." Participant enrollment is continuing through the end of 2025, with initial results anticipated in 2027, promising valuable insights into a more hopeful future for children's vision.