New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Myopia

Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects nearly half of young adults in many countries and often worsens through childhood. Standard glasses and contacts correct blur but don't slow progression. Research now focuses on preventing myopia from worsening in children, reducing the adult risk of retinal complications like detachment or macular degeneration.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing low-dose atropine eye drops, special contact lenses and glasses that alter peripheral focus, increased outdoor time, and combination approaches to slow myopia progression in children. Studies also examine the biology of eye growth, genetic factors, and interventions to reduce high myopia in populations where rates are rising sharply.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on child's age (often 6 to 12 years), rate of myopia progression, current prescription strength, and absence of other eye conditions.

What types of trials are currently open

• Myopia control trials — Testing atropine drops, special lenses, or other interventions to slow eye elongation and progression of nearsightedness in children.
• Optical intervention studies — Comparing different contact lens or eyeglass designs that alter peripheral vision to see which best slows myopia.
• Behavioral trials — Testing whether increased outdoor time, reduced near work, or other lifestyle changes affect myopia progression.
• Combination studies — Testing atropine drops plus special lenses or outdoor time to see if combining approaches works better than either alone.
• Natural history studies — Following children with myopia over years to understand how progression varies by age, genetics, and environment.