Key Takeaways

  • Combining low-dose atropine eye drops with DIMS lenses slowed eye growth significantly more than atropine with standard glasses alone over 12 months
  • Nearly 40% of children receiving the combined treatment showed no axial eye elongation, compared with about 12% in the control group
  • Results suggest an additive effect from dual therapy, supporting combination approaches to better manage childhood myopia progression

A new clinical trial published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology reports that combining two existing treatments for childhood myopia may significantly slow the condition’s progression.1

Researchers in Spain conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 102 children aged 4 to 16 with moderate myopia. The study compared two treatment approaches: low-dose atropine eye drops paired with standard single-vision glasses, and the same drops combined with specialized “defocus incorporated multiple segments” (DIMS) lenses.

After 12 months, children using atropine with DIMS lenses experienced significantly less elongation of the eye—considered a key driver of worsening myopia—than those using atropine with standard glasses. On average, axial eye growth measured 0.07 mm in the combination group, compared with 0.18 mm in the standard-treatment group, a statistically significant difference. Nearly 40% of children receiving the combined therapy showed no eye elongation at all over the year, compared with just over 12% in the control group.

While both groups showed relatively small changes in prescription strength (measured as spherical equivalent refraction), the difference between treatments in this measure was not statistically significant.

Both atropine drops and DIMS lenses have previously been shown to slow myopia progression when used alone. However, evidence on their combined effectiveness has been limited—making this trial one of the first to rigorously test the approach. The findings suggest that combining treatments may produce an “additive effect,” meaning the benefits of each therapy reinforce one another. Children receiving the dual treatment achieved eye growth rates closer to normal levels for their age, according to the study.

Researchers say the results support combination therapy as a promising strategy for managing childhood myopia, though longer-term studies will be needed to confirm sustained benefits and safety.

Reference

1. García-Del Valle AM, et al. Combined atropine and defocus incorporated multiple segments lenses for myopia control: a randomized clinical trial. Br J Ophthalmol. 2025;109(9):1074-1080.