New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Myopia

Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects nearly half of young adults in some countries and is becoming more common worldwide. Standard treatment is glasses or contact lenses, but researchers are now testing ways to slow myopia progression in children, which matters because high myopia increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and vision loss later in life.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing low-dose atropine eye drops, special contact lenses and glasses that alter how light focuses on the retina, and orthokeratology lenses worn overnight. Studies also look at time spent outdoors and screen use patterns. For adults with high myopia, research focuses on preventing and treating complications like myopic macular degeneration.

What to know before you search

Eligibility for myopia control trials typically depends on age (usually 6–16 years), degree of myopia, rate of progression, and absence of other eye conditions.

What types of trials are currently open

• Myopia control trials — Testing atropine drops, special contact lenses, or orthokeratology in children to see if they slow the rate at which myopia worsens over one to three years.
• Optical device trials — Comparing different contact lens or eyeglass designs that alter peripheral vision to control eye growth in children.
• Combination therapy trials — Testing whether combining atropine with optical interventions works better than either alone for slowing myopia progression.
• Complication prevention trials — Studies in adults with high myopia testing treatments to prevent retinal damage, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.
• Behavioral studies — Observational research tracking outdoor time, screen use, and reading distance to understand what environmental factors drive myopia in children.