Recent findings of the CHAMP (Childhood Atropine for Myopia Progression) trial were published in the JAMA Ophthalmology. It showed that a daily drop of low-dose atropine in each eye is more effective than a placebo for preventing eye elongation and limiting changes in eyeglass prescriptions in nearsighted children between 6 and 10 years. 

Myopia begins in young children with nearsightedness and progresses throughout the teen years before leveling off in most people. Around the world, one in three adults has nearsightedness; by 2050, myopia is expected to affect 50% of people. In the US or Europe, no pharmaceuticals have been approved to treat myopia.

This study was double-masked and randomly assigned a new phase 3 trial, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of two low-dose treatments with atropine concentrations of either 0.01% or 0.02% compared to a placebo. Each of the 489 kids, aged 6 to 10, received treatment by placing one drop per eye at night. 

The solution containing 0.01% atropine produced the most significant benefits at all time points compared to placebo. 

The safety profile was evaluated in a larger sample of 573 individuals, including children aged between 3 and 16 years. The most frequent side effects of both low-dose formulations were sensitivity to light, allergic conjunctivitis, ocular discomfort, dilated pupils, and blurred vision.

The CHAMP trial involved a sizable, diverse population drawn from 26 clinical sites in North America and five nations in Europe, and was the first study involving low-dose atropine to include placebo controls for three years.

(Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/eye-drops-slow-nearsightedness-progression-in-children-study-101685687955220.html)