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

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

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07567040
Acronym
DONUT
Enrollment
664
Registered
2026-05-05
Start date
2026-05-27
Completion date
2028-05-15
Last updated
2026-08-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Myopia

Keywords

prevention

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.

Interventions

DRUGAtropine Sulfate 0.05% Oph Soln

Atropine Sulfate 0.05% Oph Soln compounded at the pharmacy

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo drop with same formulation as treatment minus the atropine

Sponsors

Ohio State University
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Eye Institute (NEI)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Bottles to be distributed are masked at the pharmacy. Only pharmacy personnel and data coordinating center personnel have access to the assigned treatment groups.

Intervention model description

Placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 11 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

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

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Cumulative incidence of myopia (spherical equivalent by Myopia Master)Two yearsCumulative incidence of myopia as measured by cycloplegic autorefraction comparison between treatment and placebo
Axial elongation (by Myopia Master)Two yearsAxial elongation comparison between treatment and placebo

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to event in incident myopes (measured by spherical equivalent by Myopia Master)2 yearsA comparison of the time to myopia onset between the treatment and placebo groups
Progression of spherical equivalent (by Myopia Master)2 yearsSpherical equivalent progression (change) comparison between treatment and placebo

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTLisa A Jordan, PhD
jordan.646@osu.edu614-247-7321
STUDY_CHAIRDavid A Berntsen, OD PhD

University of Houston College of Optometry

STUDY_CHAIRJeffrey J Walline, OD PhD

The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 22, 2026