Study challenges the notion of ‘responders’ and ‘non-responders’ in myopia control

The labels ‘responders’ and ‘non-responders’ in myopia control treatments are not supported by evidence, according to a study that found both fast and slow progressors experienced similar reductions in myopia progression and axial elongation when treated with low concentrations of atropine.

A recent analysis of data from participants in the Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) study, a placebo-controlled trial that investigated the efficacy of 3 low concentrations of atropine in managing myopia over the first year, assessed the efficacy of atropine treatments by comparing the absolute reductions in myopia progression and axial elongation across different age groups and atropine concentrations.

Researchers found that the reduction in myopia progression and axial elongation was consistent across patients, regardless of whether they were initially fast or slow progressors. This suggests that the terms ‘responders’ and ‘non-responders’ may be misleading, as all participants experienced similar benefits from the treatment.

Reference
Brennan NA, Nixon AD, Cheng X, Bullimore MA. Can we really distinguish ‘responders’ from ‘non-responders’ to myopia control interventions? Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2024;doi: 10.1111/opo.13379. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39229644.