學齡前(6 歲前)就出現近視、家長有高度近視史、每年進展 > 0.50 D — 這三類屬高風險,建議盡早諮詢眼科專科醫師討論主動介入策略。
主要參考文獻
Yam JC, et al. Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops in Myopia Control. Ophthalmology. 2019;126(1):113-124.
Yam JC, et al. Two-Year Clinical Trial of the Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Phase 2 Report. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(7):910-919.
Yam JC, et al. Three-Year Clinical Trial of Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Continued Versus Washout: Phase 3 Report. Ophthalmology. 2022;129(3):308-321.
Chia A, et al. Atropine for the Treatment of Childhood Myopia: Safety and Efficacy of 0.5%, 0.1%, and 0.01% Doses (Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia 2). Ophthalmology. 2012;119(2):347-354.
Jiang Y, et al. Effect of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Myopia Control in Children: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Ophthalmology. 2022;129(5):509-519.
Flitcroft DI, et al. IMI – Defining and Classifying Myopia: A Proposed Set of Standards for Clinical and Epidemiologic Studies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019;60(3):M20-M30. IMI consensus definition.
Liu H, Yang Y, Guo J, Peng J, Zhao P. Retinal Damage After Repeated Low-level Red-Light Laser Exposure. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2023;141(7):693-695. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.1548.
He M, et al. Effect of Time Spent Outdoors at School on the Development of Myopia Among Children in China: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2015;314(11):1142-1148.
Wu PC, et al. Outdoor Activity during Class Recess Reduces Myopia Onset and Progression in School Children. Ophthalmology. 2013;120(5):1080-1085.
Gifford KL, et al. IMI – Clinical Management Guidelines Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019;60(3):M184-M203.
Chia A, et al. Atropine for the treatment of childhood myopia: changes after stopping atropine 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5%. Am J Ophthalmol. 2014;157(2):451-457.e1.
Zhang Y, et al. Discontinuation Approach and Follow-Up of Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression: Eight-Year Results of the LAMP Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2026;144(5):396-403.
Lam CSY, et al. Long-term myopia control effect and safety in children wearing DIMS spectacle lenses for 6 years. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):5475.
Leung TW, et al. Long-term axial elongation in myopic children wearing DIMS spectacle lenses: an 8-to-10-year observational study. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2026;11(2):e002780.
Bullimore MA, Sinnott LT, Jones-Jordan LA. The risk of microbial keratitis with overnight corneal reshaping lenses. Optom Vis Sci. 2013;90(9):937-944.
Cho P, Cheung SW. Retardation of myopia in Orthokeratology (ROMIO) study: a 2-year randomized clinical trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(11):7077-7085.
VanderVeen DK, et al. Use of Orthokeratology for the Prevention of Myopic Progression in Children: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2019;126(4):623-636.
Chamberlain P, et al. A 3-year Randomized Clinical Trial of MiSight Lenses for Myopia Control. Optom Vis Sci. 2019;96(8):556-567.
Xiong R, et al. Sustained and rebound effect of repeated low-level red-light therapy on myopia control: A 2-year post-trial follow-up study. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2022;50(9):1013-1024.
Wu PC, et al. Myopia Prevention and Outdoor Light Intensity in a School-Based Cluster Randomized Trial. Ophthalmology. 2018;125(8):1239-1250.
Wu PC, et al. Increased Time Outdoors Is Followed by Reversal of the Long-Term Trend to Reduced Visual Acuity in Taiwan Primary School Students. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(11):1462-1469.
Sherwin JC, et al. The association between time spent outdoors and myopia in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2012;119(10):2141-2151.
Xiong S, et al. Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Acta Ophthalmol. 2017;95(6):551-566.
Haarman AEG, et al. The Complications of Myopia: A Review and Meta-Analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020;61(4):49.
Bullimore MA, et al. IMI – Onset and Progression of Myopia in Young Adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023;64(6):2.
Clark RA, Wong RK. Spherical Equivalent Refraction Versus Axial Length for Monitoring Childhood Myopia and Estimating Disease Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Ophthalmol. 2026;286:235-247.
Lin LY, et al. Duration-Dependent Efficacy and Clinical Safety of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Paediatric Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026;54(5):630-652.
Myth 1 · "Myopia is just blurry vision; LASIK fixes it later"
Myth: Nearsightedness is no big deal — just get LASIK as an adult.
Truth: Myopia = excessive axial elongation, and it's irreversible. LASIK corrects refractive error but does not shorten the eyeball or reverse retinal thinning.
Myopia is fundamentally excessive axial elongation (an eye longer than average; mean adult axial length is about 23.6 mm, Clark & Wong 2026 meta-analysis). The lengthened eye stretches the retina thinner and may produce breaks. Even after LASIK / SMILE reshapes the cornea, axial length does not shorten — all complications of "too long an eyeball" remain.
This article uses the IMI definition of high myopia: spherical equivalent ≤−6.00 D with accommodation relaxed. Study definitions may differ. Adult complications in high-myopia populations include (Haarman 2020 meta-analysis):
Retinal detachment — odds ratio about 12.6 versus non-myopes
Glaucoma — about 2–3× increased risk (odds ratio 2.9 for moderate/high myopia)
Myopic maculopathy — leading cause of irreversible blindness in Asia
Cataract — odds ratio about 4.6 for posterior subcapsular and 2.9 for nuclear cataract
The goal is slower progression and lower long-term risk; no final refractive threshold guarantees freedom from complications.
Myth 2 · "Pseudomyopia just needs rest, no doctor visit"
Myth: My child says distance is blurry — could be pseudomyopia. They'll be fine after rest.
Truth: Pseudomyopia can only be confirmed by cycloplegic refraction. Missing early diagnosis lets true myopia progress fast.
Pseudomyopia is transient ciliary spasm from prolonged near work — temporarily excessive accommodation makes distance blurry, but resolves when the muscle relaxes. Axial myopia is true elongation of the eyeball — irreversible.
The two look identical externally — both manifest as "distance blur." The only reliable distinction is cycloplegic refraction, meaning cycloplegic drops are used and refraction is done once the ciliary muscle has relaxed; your eye doctor decides the drug and the waiting time. If pre/post-cycloplegia refraction differs significantly → pseudomyopia predominates; if cycloplegic refraction still shows myopia → axial myopia is established.
First report of distance blur warrants immediate evaluation, not observation. Even pseudomyopia signals excessive near work, so the child should be examined early and near-work habits adjusted. Taiwan's Health Promotion Administration recommends eye checks 1–2 times a year with periodic cycloplegic refraction to monitor the child's hyperopic reserve.
Myth 3 · "Low-dose atropine: 0.01% vs 0.05% — which is better?"
Myth: 0.01% has no side effects and 0.05% causes glare — so 0.01% is safer.
Truth: The LAMP trial (head-to-head) found 0.05% most effective (~67% slowing), 0.025% moderate (~43%), 0.01% weakest (~27%). All three are acceptably safe.
The 2019 Hong Kong LAMP Study (Low-concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression, Yam JC et al, Ophthalmology) randomized 438 Chinese children aged 4–12 to three concentrations of low-dose atropine. Years 2–3 follow-up reports came in 2020–2022. Key findings:
資料表可左右捲動查看;用鍵盤時,選取表格後按左右方向鍵。
Concentration
Year-1 progression slowing
Common side effects
0.05%
~67%
Photophobia (31% at 2 weeks, 8% at 1 year; placebo 13%, 4%); accommodation down about 2 D, near vision not significantly affected
0.025%
~43%
Photophobia (19% at 2 weeks, 7% at 1 year)
0.01%
~27%
Photophobia (6% at 2 weeks, 2% at 1 year)
Practical interpretation:
Faster progressors (>0.50 D/year; the IMI 2019 clinical management guidelines list past progression >0.50 D/year as a marker of faster future progression) → start at 0.05%; step down if photophobia is intolerable.
Slow progressors / preschool → may start at 0.025% or 0.01%.
Rebound on cessation — ATOM2 post-cessation follow-up (Chia 2014) showed larger rebound after 0.5% and 0.1%, and the smallest after 0.01%. LAMP year-3 data showed rebound rose slightly with concentration but the differences were clinically small; stopping at an older age and a lower concentration was associated with less rebound.
The concentration is selected according to progression, age, adverse effects and tolerability. Clinical selection and NHI eligibility are separate questions.
Myth 4 · "Ortho-K damages the cornea and causes infection"
Myth: Hard lenses worn overnight will damage corneas and cause infections long-term.
Truth: Study estimates: about 7.7–13.9 cases per 10,000 person-years (0.077%–0.139% per year). Estimates vary by population and care; they are not an individual guarantee. Cleaning and follow-up remain important.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) uses high-Dk gas-permeable rigid lenses worn overnight to temporarily flatten the central cornea, allowing clear unaided daytime vision. Studies show about 40–50% slower axial elongation (43% in the ROMIO trial; about 50% in the AAO technology assessment); the proposed mechanism is an altered peripheral retinal defocus signal.
A US retrospective study (Bullimore 2013) estimated microbial keratitis at about 7.7 (overall) and 13.9 (children) cases per 10,000 patient-years (0.077%–0.139% per year), similar to other overnight lens modalities. Estimates vary by population and care; they are not an individual guarantee. Cleaning and follow-up remain important.
Daily cleaning with sterile solution, never tap water.
Replace lenses every 1–1.5 years; cases every 3 months.
Stop wearing during cold, fever, or eye redness.
Cornea check every 3 months.
Candidates: this depends on each product's Taiwan-approved labeling (for example, one product is limited to myopia ≤5.00 D, astigmatism ≤1.50 D and age 12+, another to age 9+), plus good compliance with lens care.
Myth 5 · "DIMS lenses are just marketing — regular glasses work just as well"
Myth: These special lenses cost a lot but probably work like ordinary glasses.
Truth: Lam 2020, 2 years: 52% less SER progression and 62% less axial elongation; these are different outcomes.
DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) lenses, developed at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and marketed as MiYOSMART (Hoya; licensed as a medical device in Taiwan), have a clear central zone surrounded by hundreds of +3.50 D microlenslets producing myopic defocus on the peripheral retina, suppressing axial elongation.
The 2020 Lam CSY et al 2-year RCT (183 children aged 8–13 randomized, 160 completed; Br J Ophthalmol):
DIMS group myopia progression: −0.41 D vs control −0.85 D (52% slowing)
Axial elongation: 0.21 mm vs 0.55 mm (62% slowing)
6-year follow-up (90 children from the original trial; Lam 2023) showed sustained control with continued wear and no rebound after stopping; a 2026 observational follow-up averaging 9.4 years (60 participants; Leung 2026) found slower axial elongation persisting into late adolescence, without a contemporaneous single-vision control group
Advantages: non-invasive, easiest compliance (worn like any glasses). Disadvantage: cost — a reference range in Taiwan is about NT$ 20,000–30,000 / pair, varying by clinic, frame and coatings; plus replacement every 1–2 years as the prescription changes adds up over time. May be used as monotherapy or combined with atropine. Similar products: HAL lenses (Highly Aspherical Lenslets, Essilor Stellest — authorized by the US FDA in September 2025 for children aged 6–12 at treatment initiation), CARE / DOT lenses.
Myth 6 · "Repeated Low-Level Red Light therapy (RLRL) — is it safe?"
Myth: I heard a Chinese red-light therapy slows myopia in just 3 minutes a day. Safe?
Truth: outcomes and estimates differ by study; read axial elongation and refractive outcomes separately. Long-term safety and retinal-injury concerns remain unresolved.
Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy (RLRL) uses 650 nm light, 3 minutes twice daily (at least 4 hours apart), 5 days a week. Jiang 2022: 264 randomized; 246 included in the analysis. The following are adjusted 12-month results (RLRL versus single-vision spectacles).
Adjusted axial elongation: +0.13 versus +0.38 mm (RLRL versus single-vision spectacles).
Adjusted SER progression: −0.20 versus −0.79 D (RLRL versus single-vision spectacles).
Read axial-length and refractive outcomes separately; do not combine studies into one efficacy rate.
However, important concerns:
Liu et al. (2023) reported bilateral retinal injury in one 12-year-old girl. Two eyes are not two patients; this is a named case report, not a current worldwide case count. Long-term safety remains uncertain.
Long-term (>5 year) safety data lacking, especially regarding cumulative retinal phototoxicity.
Possible rebound after stopping: in a 2-year follow-up, children who stopped RLRL had 0.42 mm axial elongation in year 2 versus 0.28 mm with continuous single-vision spectacles (Xiong 2022; described by the authors as a modest rebound).
Not FDA-approved for myopia control; Australia's TGA registered a home-use myopia-control red-light device in 2023 (Class IIa); no Taiwan licence for myopia use was found.
The latest meta-analysis (Lin 2026; 28 RCTs, 3573 children) found RLRL slowed myopia over 12 months with mostly mild, transient adverse events, but the authors call for longer trials with comprehensive retinal safety assessment. Given the reported retinal injury case, it is not first-line for now; if used, select cases carefully with close fundus follow-up, and prefer atropine or Ortho-K, which have more long-term data.
Myth 7 · "Outdoor time has nothing to do with myopia, right?"
Myth: Outdoor time is hot — kids should focus on studying indoors. Outdoor and myopia aren't related.
Truth: 2 hours/day outdoors (especially preschool) reduces incident myopia by about 30–50%. It's a simple, nearly free, low-risk prevention method (sun protection still applies).
Evidence is robust:
He M et al's 2015 Guangzhou JAMA cluster RCT (n=1903 first-graders): adding one 40-minute outdoor class each school day reduced 3-year myopia incidence from 39.5% to 30.4%.
Wu PC et al's Taiwanese studies: encouraging recess outside the classroom lowered 1-year myopia onset (8.41% vs 17.65%, 2013); a 16-school cluster randomized trial showed less myopic shift (2018); after the 2010 "Tian-Tian 120" outdoor policy, the prevalence of reduced visual acuity in primary schoolchildren reversed from a rising to a falling trend (2020).
Dose-response: a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies found about 2% lower odds of myopia per additional hour outdoors per week (Sherwin 2012).
Pupil constriction, increased depth of field — reduces retinal defocus
Practical advice: following Taiwan's Health Promotion Administration "3010120" guidance, ≥2 hours outdoors daily (cloudy days count too) — most critical pre-school. The evidence is strongest for preventing myopia onset (pooled trials: about 46% lower risk of incident myopia); for children who are already myopic, the effect on slowing progression is unclear (Xiong 2017). Key is "being outdoors," not "exercise" — outdoor walking, outdoor reading both qualify, as long as in natural light.
Myth 8 · "Is myopia control lifelong? When can we stop?"
Myth: Will my child need atropine or Ortho-K all the way to adulthood?
Truth: Most can stop after myopia stabilizes (e.g., <0.50 D change over 12 months); the age varies, most around 18, though some still progress in early adulthood. Premature cessation risks rebound.
The endpoint isn't a fixed age — it's when myopia naturally plateaus. In the US COMET cohort, myopia stabilized at a mean age of about 15.6 years; about 77% had stabilized by 18 and 90% by 21 (IMI 2023 review). Typical timeline:
資料表可左右捲動查看;用鍵盤時,選取表格後按左右方向鍵。
Age
Progression rate
Strategy
Preschool (<6)
Already myopic = very high risk
Outdoor + early intervention assessment
Elementary (6–12)
~0.5–1.0 D/year
Active control (atropine / Ortho-K / DIMS)
Middle/high school (12–18)
~0.25–0.5 D/year
Continue control; regular follow-up
College (18–25)
Mostly stable; some still progress
Monitor; consider gradual taper
Before stopping:
Confirm <0.50 D change over 12 consecutive months.
For atropine, consider tapering before stopping: in the 8-year LAMP results (2026), children given 0.05% for 6 months and then 0.025% for 6 months before stopping had about 0.24 D less progression over 3 years than those who stopped directly (larger differences in younger and more myopic children), although the clinical relevance of this difference is unclear.
For Ortho-K, suspend wear for 1–2 weeks and recheck.
Continue follow-up after cessation, especially for high myopia (IMI definition: spherical equivalent ≤−6.00 D); retinal health requires lifelong monitoring.
5 things parents can do
Pediatric myopia prevention / control checklist
Three high-risk groups should consult an ophthalmologist early about active intervention: onset before age 6, parental high myopia, progression >0.50 D/year.
Key references
Yam JC, et al. Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study. Ophthalmology. 2019;126(1):113-124.
Yam JC, et al. LAMP Study Phase 2 Report. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(7):910-919.
Yam JC, et al. LAMP Study Phase 3 — Continued vs Washout. Ophthalmology. 2022;129(3):308-321.
Chia A, et al. Atropine for the Treatment of Childhood Myopia (ATOM2). Ophthalmology. 2012;119(2):347-354.
Jiang Y, et al. Effect of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Myopia Control in Children. Ophthalmology. 2022;129(5):509-519.
Flitcroft DI, et al. IMI – Defining and Classifying Myopia: A Proposed Set of Standards for Clinical and Epidemiologic Studies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019;60(3):M20-M30. IMI consensus definition.
Liu H, Yang Y, Guo J, Peng J, Zhao P. Retinal Damage After Repeated Low-level Red-Light Laser Exposure. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2023;141(7):693-695. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.1548.
He M, et al. Outdoor Time and Myopia Development in Children: RCT. JAMA. 2015;314(11):1142-1148.
Wu PC, et al. Outdoor Activity during Class Recess Reduces Myopia. Ophthalmology. 2013;120(5):1080-1085.
Gifford KL, et al. IMI – Clinical Management Guidelines Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019;60(3):M184-M203.
Chia A, et al. Atropine for the treatment of childhood myopia: changes after stopping atropine 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5%. Am J Ophthalmol. 2014;157(2):451-457.e1.
Zhang Y, et al. Discontinuation Approach and Follow-Up of Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression: Eight-Year Results of the LAMP Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2026;144(5):396-403.
Lam CSY, et al. Long-term myopia control effect and safety in children wearing DIMS spectacle lenses for 6 years. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):5475.
Leung TW, et al. Long-term axial elongation in myopic children wearing DIMS spectacle lenses: an 8-to-10-year observational study. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2026;11(2):e002780.
Bullimore MA, Sinnott LT, Jones-Jordan LA. The risk of microbial keratitis with overnight corneal reshaping lenses. Optom Vis Sci. 2013;90(9):937-944.
Cho P, Cheung SW. Retardation of myopia in Orthokeratology (ROMIO) study: a 2-year randomized clinical trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(11):7077-7085.
VanderVeen DK, et al. Use of Orthokeratology for the Prevention of Myopic Progression in Children: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2019;126(4):623-636.
Chamberlain P, et al. A 3-year Randomized Clinical Trial of MiSight Lenses for Myopia Control. Optom Vis Sci. 2019;96(8):556-567.
Xiong R, et al. Sustained and rebound effect of repeated low-level red-light therapy on myopia control: A 2-year post-trial follow-up study. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2022;50(9):1013-1024.
Wu PC, et al. Myopia Prevention and Outdoor Light Intensity in a School-Based Cluster Randomized Trial. Ophthalmology. 2018;125(8):1239-1250.
Wu PC, et al. Increased Time Outdoors Is Followed by Reversal of the Long-Term Trend to Reduced Visual Acuity in Taiwan Primary School Students. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(11):1462-1469.
Sherwin JC, et al. The association between time spent outdoors and myopia in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2012;119(10):2141-2151.
Xiong S, et al. Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Acta Ophthalmol. 2017;95(6):551-566.
Haarman AEG, et al. The Complications of Myopia: A Review and Meta-Analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020;61(4):49.
Bullimore MA, et al. IMI – Onset and Progression of Myopia in Young Adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023;64(6):2.
Health Promotion Administration, Taiwan. Press release on myopia in 6th graders and hyperopic reserve (2022-12-20; updated 2025-03-24). hpa.gov.tw.
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan. Press release with Table 1 of the 2017 national child and adolescent vision survey (2018-05-04). mohw.gov.tw.
Clark RA, Wong RK. Spherical Equivalent Refraction Versus Axial Length for Monitoring Childhood Myopia and Estimating Disease Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Ophthalmol. 2026;286:235-247.
Lin LY, et al. Duration-Dependent Efficacy and Clinical Safety of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Paediatric Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026;54(5):630-652.
Health Promotion Administration, Taiwan. Press release on the 2025–26 preschool vision screening pilot (2026-06-25). hpa.gov.tw.
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan. Home eye-care advice from the Health Promotion Administration (2021-06-02; updated 2023-07-27). mohw.gov.tw.
Ministry of Education, Taiwan. School lighting energy-saving reference manual, Table 4.4 (CNS 12112:2012; classrooms 500 lux).