Recent research
Twenty recent papers worth reading, each with a link and a short summary in our own words. Updated 26 October 2026.
Links go to the publisher or a repository. Most are free; the access note on each entry says what to expect. Summaries are not a substitute for the paper, and a single study rarely settles a question.
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IMI: Interventions for Controlling Myopia Onset and Progression 2025
Bullimore MA, Saunders KJ, Wildsoet CF, et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 66(12):39.
The International Myopia Institute updates its 2019 review of optical, pharmacological, behavioural, coloured-light and surgical interventions, limiting evidence for established treatments to randomised trials. It finds multiple effective options in most categories and calls for research into the mechanisms of progression.
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Effect of low-dose atropine on young premyopic and low-myopic children: ATOM3, a randomised controlled trial
Chia A, Burkill S, Ling Y, et al. Br J Ophthalmol 110(4):356-362.
In 208 children aged 5 to 9, 0.01% atropine over two years did not significantly slow overall progression or prevent new myopia compared with placebo. Post hoc analyses hinted at less shift in premyopic eyes that stayed emmetropic, which the authors call a trend needing confirmation. A useful reality check on early prevention.
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ASPECT: 12-month results of DIMS lenses combined with 0.025% atropine
Guemes-Villahoz N, Talavero Gonzalez P, et al. Br J Ophthalmol 109(9):1074-1080.
In 102 children aged 4 to 16 on 0.025% atropine, adding DIMS lenses cut axial elongation to 0.07 mm versus 0.18 mm with single-vision lenses. Almost 40% of children on the combination had no axial growth. Refraction differences were not significant.
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New-design peripheral defocus spectacle lens versus single vision for slowing myopia progression in children
Wygnanski-Jaffe T, Shulman S, Gottesman N, et al. Sci Rep 15:39861.
One-year interim results in 121 children aged 6 to 12 showed less myopic shift (0.46 D versus 0.65 D) and less axial growth (0.27 mm versus 0.36 mm) with the new lens. Benefit was greatest in younger children and the lenses were well tolerated.
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Defocus-incorporated multiple segment spectacles combined with different concentrations of atropine
Lee C-Y, Yang S-F, Chang Y-L, et al. Sci Rep 2025.
In 160 DIMS wearers over one year, adding atropine (0.01% or 0.125%) roughly halved axial elongation (0.06 mm versus 0.13 mm). The two atropine strengths performed similarly, which supports starting with a low dose. Retrospective, so interpret with care.
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0.01% atropine eyedrops for preventing myopia progression: systematic review and meta-analysis
Navarra P, Buzzonetti L, Amico V, et al. Front Pharmacol.
Pooling 11 trials and 2,046 children, 0.01% atropine reduced spherical-equivalent change by about 0.16 D per year and axial growth by about 0.07 mm per year versus placebo. Effects were similar in Southeast Asian and other populations.
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Efficacy of repeated low-level red-light therapy in childhood myopia: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Liu C, Zhou Y, Zhan Z, Li X Front Med.
Nine trials with 1,053 children found that red-light therapy significantly slowed refractive and axial progression and increased choroidal thickness. No major publication bias was detected.
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One-year changes in axial length and refraction with low-level red light and a distant-image screen
Yang K, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Front Med 12:1542620.
In 116 children aged 8 to 10, red light plus a distant-image screen kept axial growth to 0.04 mm in a year versus 0.42 mm in controls. Each treatment alone also slowed growth, and no retinal changes were seen on photography or OCT.
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Repeated low-level red light versus peripheral defocus spectacles in medium to high myopia
Yu J, Li B, Li X, et al. Vis Neurosci 42:e002.
A small trial of 25 children with myopia of -4.00 D or more. Axial length shortened by 0.18 mm with red light and grew by 0.34 mm with defocus spectacles over 12 months. Small numbers, so confirm in larger studies.
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Safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia: a systematic review
Chen Y, Xiong R, Yang S, et al. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol 13(6):100124.
Across 20 studies and 2,380 participants, two case reports described a reversible drop in vision and OCT changes that resolved after stopping, and no permanent vision loss was reported. Supports using this treatment only with retinal monitoring.
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Prophylactic treatment of childhood myopia: a game-changer?
Lee DMX, Au Eong JTW, Au Eong K-G Front Public Health.
Argues for treating premyopic children before onset, citing a meta-analysis in which low-concentration atropine reduced incident myopia (RR 0.62) and a trial of lenslet spectacles that slowed axial growth. Read alongside ATOM3 for a balanced view.
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Exposure-response between outdoor time and myopia risk in Chinese children and adolescents
Dai J, Wang J, Bao Y-H, Zhang Y J Glob Health 16:04122.
Pooling 31 studies and 380,215 participants, more outdoor time was linked to lower myopia risk (OR 0.75). The authors suggest about two hours a day as a practical benchmark. Heterogeneity was high.
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Eleven years of orthokeratology contact lens wear
Santodomingo-Rubido J, et al. Optom Vis Sci.
Over 11 years in children who started at 6 to 12, ortho-k lens wearers had about 0.69 mm less axial elongation than spectacle wearers. Small numbers remained at follow-up and the lead author is employed by a lens maker.
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Axial length growth trajectories in children transitioning to myopia
Liu WC, Guo H, Lam CSY, et al. Am J Ophthalmol 279:223-233.
In 895 Chinese children aged 4 to 15, axial growth sped up after myopia onset and was faster than in children who stayed non-myopic, especially in younger children. Supports early detection and intervention.
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Global axial length centile charts (CREAM-Kids)
Kneepkens SCM, Lingham G, van Hemert DJ, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol 144(8):744-753.
Sex- and region-specific centile charts from 147,404 children and 559,799 measurements. East Asian children had longer eyes at every centile, so the chart should match the child's background when judging growth.
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A deep learning system for myopia onset prediction and intervention effectiveness evaluation in children (DeepMyopia)
Qi Z, Li T, Chen J, et al. npj Digit Med 7.
Uses routine fundus photographs to predict myopia onset at 1, 2 and 3 years. In an emulated trial it was associated with a 17.8% relative reduction in myopia when used to guide outdoor-time intervention.
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High myopia: reviews of myopia control strategies and myopia complications
Shah R, Vlasak N, Evans BJW Ophthalmic Physiol Opt.
Twelve studies of control in high myopia: atropine 0.5% and 1% slowed progression, ortho-k worked about equally across myopia levels, and DIMS was less effective in high myopia. Helps choose for faster, higher myopia.
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Second-generation DIMS spectacle lenses in fast-progressing myopes: trial protocol
Hon Y, Chun RKM, Leung TW, et al. PLoS One 20(10):e0335061.
Describes a double-masked trial in children aged 4 to 12 with fast progression (0.50 D or 0.27 mm a year or more). No results yet; one to watch for evidence in the children who need it most.
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MALCOLM: multifocal contact lenses for myopia control in Australian children, study protocol
Jalbert I, Briggs N, Dang R, et al. BMJ Open 15(4).
A double-blind, contralateral-eye trial testing whether a widely available multifocal lens is no less effective than MiSight 1-Day over 12 months. No results yet; may widen affordable options.
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Association of myopia with screen time in paediatric patients in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia
Al Mulhim N, AlFares M, AlMehrij S, et al. F1000Research 14:148.
In 94 myopic children, smartphones (98.9%) and laptops (87.2%) were the commonest devices and screen time rose with age. Small and retrospective, but it shows regional data from the Gulf and how little is known there.
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