Controlling myopia in children using bright light therapy and atropine
Effectiveness of Bright Light Therapy, Myopic Defocus, Atropine and the Combinations for Controlling Myopic Eye Growth in Schoolchildren: A Randomized Control Trial
This study is testing if bright light therapy and atropine can help slow down the worsening of nearsightedness in healthy schoolchildren aged 7-12 in Hong Kong.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 579 (estimated) |
| Ages | 7 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Trial ID | NCT04923841 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of bright light therapy, myopic defocus, and atropine in controlling myopia progression among healthy schoolchildren aged 7-12 in Hong Kong. It is a multi-arm randomized trial lasting 24 months, involving 760 participants who will be assigned to different treatment groups. The study aims to compare the effects of various combinations of therapies on refractive errors and axial length changes over time. Participants will undergo regular monitoring to assess the impact of these interventions on myopia control.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy Hong Kong Chinese schoolchildren aged 7-12 with low to moderate myopia.
Not a fit: Patients with prior myopia control treatments or certain ocular/systemic diseases may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a new effective approach to slowing down myopia progression in children.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using similar approaches for myopia control, but this specific combination is being tested for the first time.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Myopia of at least -0.75D (spherical equivalent) in both eyes * Age at enrolment: 7-12 year; Hong Kong Chinese * Astigmatism and anisometropia: 1.50D or less * Spectacle corrected monocular visual acuity (VA): 0.0 logMAR or better * Parents' understanding and acceptance of random allocation of grouping and masking * Able to wear the prescribed spectacle, put on eye drop and undergo light therapy daily. Exclusion Criteria: * Eye disease or binocular vision problems (e.g., strabismus, amblyopia, oculomotor nerve palsies, corneal disease, etc.) * Previous intraocular or corneal surgery * Systemic disease that may affect vision, vision development (e.g. endocrine, cardiac and respiratory diseases, diabetes, Down syndrome, etc.) * Allergy to atropine * Previous gas permeable, soft bifocal, or orthokeratology contact lens wear or bifocal/PAL/specific myopic control spectacle wear or use of atropine or pirenzepine (longer than 1 month of wear) * Previous or current participation in myopia control studies
Where this trial is running
Hong Kong
- Centre for Myopia Research, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Chi Ho To, PhD — School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Study coordinator: Dennis Yan-yin Tse, PhD
- Email: dennis.tse@polyu.edu.hk
- Phone: 852-27666096
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.