A new international study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology provides fresh evidence supporting the use of low-dose atropine eye drops to slow myopia progression in children, while also revealing important differences in treatment response across ethnic groups. The study—a large systematic review and meta-analysis—analyzed data from 25 randomized controlled trials involving more than 4,300 children aged 4 to 18. Researchers examined the effectiveness of 0.01% atropine, one of the most commonly prescribed low-dose therapies for myopia control. The analysis found that 0.01% atropine reduced the annual progression of myopia by approximately 37% compared with placebo, confirming its role as a clinically meaningful intervention. Myopia progression was assessed using changes in spherical equivalent refraction and axial length—key indicators of worsening nearsightedness. One of the study’s most notable findings was that treatment effectiveness varied significantly by ethnicity. Researchers reported: South Asian children: ~66% reduction in myopia progression East Asian children: ~35% reduction White populations: ~28% reduction The differences were statistically significant, suggesting that biological or environmental factors may influence how patients respond to low-dose atropine. According to the authors, myopia is rapidly increasing worldwide and is projected to affect nearly half of the global population by 2050. Left unmanaged, it can lead to serious complications such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy. The findings support the continued use of 0.01% atropine as a safe and scalable intervention, while also highlighting the need for more personalized approaches to treatment. Researchers emphasized that while 0.01% atropine is effective, further studies are needed to optimize dosing strategies and better understand the factors driving variability in treatment response.