Is it possible to stop the development of childhood myopia?
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024
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Internal intake of the intermediate product of caffeine - 7-methylxanthine - inhibits the development of childhood myopia, as reported by Danish scientists, as well as representatives of the Chinese hospital Shenzhen and the British School of Optometry. The full text of the appeal can be read on the pages of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Pediatric myopia is usually diagnosed in six- or seven-year-old children, gradually progressing and worsening by the age of 18. If the pathology develops rapidly, undesirable complications may form - in particular, increased intraocular pressure, retinal detachment, macular degeneration. In most cases, complete restoration of vision is not possible, even despite the abundance of modern medications and optical procedures.
Studies have demonstrated that the metabolic product of caffeine, 7-methylxanthine, prevents excessive axial elongation, i.e., an increase in the anteroposterior ocular axis. The main objective of the scientific project was to evaluate the stages of progression of myopia in small patients against the background of 7-methylxanthine intake.
During the experiment, the experts analyzed information on more than 700 children (approximately equal proportions of boys and girls). These children were treated for myopia with 7-methylxanthine in a Danish clinic. The ages of the study participants ranged from 7 to 15 years old. All children had a complete ophthalmologic examination beforehand, including measurements of the anteroposterior eye axis and refraction. Most of the young patients were taking 7-methylxanthine in the amount of 1200 mg per day.
The condition of the children was monitored for about 3.5 years. During this period myopia progressed by 1.34 diopters on average. Administration of the drug caused slowing down of the disease development and inhibition of ocular axis elongation.
Computer prediction shows that the average progression of a refractive anomaly of -2.53 diopters in a 7-year-old toddler increases by -3.49 diopters if left untreated for six years. If, however, the patient takes 7-methylxanthine daily in the amount of 1 g, the progression of myopia slows down to -2.65 diopters.
The length of the ocular axis in the absence of treatment increases by 1.8 mm for six years, and against the background of the drug this increase is 1.63 mm.
An eleven-year-old child who is treated regularly with 7-methylxanthine gets a six-year progression of -1.43 diopters in the disease. If the drug is not taken, the disease progresses by -2.27 diopters over six years. The elongation of the ocular axis in children without treatment is 1.01 mm and 0.84 mm with treatment.
As noted by ophthalmologists, the caffeine metabolite is well tolerated and does not cause the development of side effects.
American experts recognized the drug as completely safe and allowed it to be sold. Previously, the drug was prescribed in pediatrics for asthma attacks.
The full article can be found on the BMJ's page at