Delaying the Onset of Nearsightedness Until Treatment (DONUT) Clinical Trial

ClinicalTrials.gov ID

NCT07567040

Lead Sponsor

Ohio State UniversityOTHER

Overall Status

Recruiting

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Enrollment

664Estimated

Last Update Posted

Aug 21, 2026Actual

Start Date

May 27, 2026Actual

Primary Completion Date

May 15, 2028Estimated

Completion Date

May 15, 2028Estimated

Official Title

Delaying the Onset of Nearsightedness Until Treatment (DONUT) Clinical Trial

Brief Summary

The aims of this clinical trial will test whether or not the onset of nearsightedness is delayed in a group of children randomized to nightly drops in 0.05% atropine in both eyes, in comparison to children who receiving nightly placebo drops in both eyes. The primary outcome is the two-year cumulative incidence of nearsightedness. The second aim of this project will determine whether atropine is associated with slower eye growth in children receiving nightly drops of atropine versus placebo.

Detailed Description

The "Delaying the Onset of Nearsightedness (DONUT) Study - Data Coordinating Center" is a randomized clinical trial designed to compare the effectiveness 0.05% atropine and a placebo in delaying the onset of nearsightedness. It is a multicenter (14 clinic centers) randomized clinical trial of 606 children (recruited over two years) ages 6 to 11 years who are determine to be at high risk of myopia onset, as measured by cycloplegic autorefraction and age. The primary outcome is the two-year cumulative incidence of myopia. The second aim of this project will determine whether atropine is associated with slower axial elongation in children receiving nightly drops of atropine versus placebo.

Participants will be seen every six months for at least two years to determine the onset of myopia.

• Myopia

• Atropine Sulfate 0.05% Oph Soln
• Placebo

Ages Eligible for Study

Child (0-17)

Sexes Eligible for Study

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Refractive Error (cycloplegic autorefraction, spherical equivalent, at least one eye, inclusive) 6 years: -0.74 D to +0.75 D 7 and 8 years: -0.74 D to +0.50 D 9 and 10 years: -0.74 D to +0.25 D 11 years: -0.74 D to plano
• Neither eye has -0.75 D or more myopia, spherical component
• Anisometropia: Less than 1.50 D difference between OD and OS, cycloplegic autorefraction, spherical equivalent
• Astigmatism: Less than 1.50 DC in both eyes by cycloplegic autorefraction
• Successfully complete run-in period: take at least 90% of unit dose artificial tears for 2 to 4 weeks (# of unit-dose vials used divided by # nights since baseline visit must equal 0.90 or greater)

Exclusion Criteria:

• If Visit 2 (randomization visit) is not completed within 4 weeks of the baseline, eligibility visit.
• Presence of strabismus (intermittent or constant) based on unilateral cover test at distance and near
• Known allergy to atropine
• Systemic issues that may affect accommodation or convergence (e.g., multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Graves ophthalmopathy, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, Down syndrome, etc.)
• Ocular disease (e.g., congenital glaucoma, retinal disease, nystagmus, amblyopia, etc.)
• Ocular surgery (e.g., cataracts, strabismus)
• Any previous myopia prevention/control therapy (e.g., atropine, soft contact lenses, orthokeratology, myopia control spectacles, etc.) for more than one month
• Pregnancy by self-report

Primary Purpose

Prevention

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional Model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Quadruple

Lead Sponsor

Ohio State UniversityOTHER

Collaborators

National Eye Institute (NEI)NIH

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peteramy@iu.edu812-856-0242