AI-Stratified Myopia Control for Children in Remote Areas

September 13, 2026 updated by: Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center

AI-Based Risk-Stratified Intervention Strategy for Myopia Control in Children From Remote Areas: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

This cluster-randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-based, risk-stratified, tiered intervention model for childhood myopia prevention and control in resource-limited county areas of China, compared with the conventional screening-and-referral approach, with schools in project counties of Guizhou or Yunnan Province randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention or control group over a 12-month follow-up period.

The study is motivated by the pressing reality that myopia among Chinese children is not only widespread but also occurring at younger ages than ever before, bringing with it a lifelong risk of sight-threatening complications, yet in remote county areas, routine vision screening programs are not yet widely available or well-established, due to a shortage of trained eye care professionals, the practical difficulties of performing cycloplegic refraction in school settings, and the lack of systematic follow-up, all of which make it hard to identify children with myopia or pre-myopia. Given that artificial intelligence may offer a practical way to assess risk without the need for pupil dilation, this study will enroll children in grades 1 through 3 from local primary schools. Over 12 months, an AI model will dynamically categorize children based on screening results and guide management adjustments(outdoor activity and defocus lenses) for the intervention group, while the control group receives routine care.

The findings are expected to provide evidence to inform and optimize AI-based myopia prevention and control strategies in remote areas.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1600

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Guizhou
      • Guiyang, Guizhou, China, 550000
        • The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200041
        • Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention & Treatment Center
    • Yunnan
      • Kunming, Yunnan, China, 650000
        • The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

  1. School level:

    Inclusion Criteria:

    • The school is a regular public primary school located within a project county in Guizhou Province or Yunnan Province.
    • The school has the organizational capacity to conduct myopia screening and follow-up studies in children and adolescents, including the ability to coordinate screening organization, parent communication, informed consent collection, result feedback, and follow-up coordination.
    • The number of students in grades 1-3 in study school is sufficient to meet the requirements for conducting a cluster randomized study.

    Exclusion Criteria:

    • The school has implemented a similar systematic myopia intervention program within the past year that may affect the evaluation of study outcomes.
    • Student mobility is high, with a predicted high risk of transfer, missed visits, or loss to follow-up within 12 months.
    • There is a lack of accessible medical institutions near the school to support necessary cycloplegic examinations and related services.
  2. Participant level:

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age of participants is 6-9 years (equivalent to grades 1-3 of primary school).
  • Participants can be able to complete baseline and follow-up examinations including visual acuity, non-cycloplegic autorefraction, and axial length measurements.
  • For participants who have previously received myopia control interventions such as low-dose atropine eye drops, defocus spectacle lenses, or red-light therapy, a washout period of at least 1 month is required prior to enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Baseline spherical equivalent refraction (SER) ≤ -10.00 D.
  • Presence of ocular or systemic diseases (including infections) that may affect visual acuity or refraction, or use of systemic or topical medications that may alter ocular status or affect ocular health.
  • Presence of any ocular conditions that preclude suitability for the interventions in this study, including but not limited to amblyopia, manifest strabismus, or current use of orthokeratology lenses.
  • Presence of any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the participant unsuitable for enrollment.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention Group

The intervention group receives routine screening (uncorrected visual acuity + non-cycloplegic autorefraction + axial length), followed by AI-based risk stratification at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Tiered interventions are adjusted according to the most recent risk-stratification result into three tiers: hyperopia, pre-myopia, and myopia. Corresponding tiered interventions are provided: outdoor activity (2 h/day on weekends) for tier 1; plano defocus lenses (≥8 h/day) + outdoor activity for tier 2; and defocus lenses (≥12 h/day) + outdoor activity for tier 3.

Participants with unclear AI risk stratification or newly onset myopia will be advised to undergo cycloplegic refraction and then to receive study-assigned intervention. For those already using myopia interventions (e.g., atropine, defocus spectacles), guardians will be fully informed of the study plan; if they agree, a 1-month washout period is required before starting the study intervention.
Behavioral: AI-Guided Tiered Management
Students in the intervention group receive routine vision screening followed by AI-based risk stratification, which classifies each student into one of three categories, hyperopia, pre-myopia, or myopia, to guide subsequent tiered interventions. For children with hyperopia, the intervention consists of prescribed outdoor activities, with a target of 2 hours per day on weekends and daily activity records. For those with pre-myopia, the intervention combines plano defocus lenses (A.M.L.™) worn for at least 8 hours per day with the same outdoor activity regimen. For those with myopia, the intervention includes defocus lenses (A.M.L.™) worn for at least 12 hours per day, also combined with outdoor activities and records. All tiered assignments are dynamically adjusted at each follow-up visit based on the most recent AI classification.
Active Comparator: Control Group
The control group receives the traditional model of "routine screening + feedback and referral." Based on routine screening using uncorrected visual acuity combined with non-cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length, screening reports, feedback, and referrals are provided to parents according to the technical standards of the national health industry.
Behavioral: Routine Screening and Referral
Based on routine screening combining uncorrected visual acuity with non-cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length, the control group provides parents with screening reports, feedback, and referrals according to the national health industry standard, which provides tiered recommendations ranging from routine monitoring and eye hygiene, to ophthalmologic consultation for those at risk of myopia, to regular 3- to 6-month re-examination for those with reduced uncorrected but normal corrected visual acuity, and to timely referral for those identified as screening-positive or with possible visual function abnormalities.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Rapid refractive progression
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 months
The rapid refractive progression is defined as axial length elongation >0.2 mm over 12 months.
Baseline to 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Screened myopia
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 months
Screened myopia is defined as uncorrected visual acuity < 5.0 and spherical equivalent refraction < -0.50 D as measured by non-cycloplegic autorefraction.
Baseline to 12 months
Axial length change
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 months
Axial length change is defined as the difference in axial length obtained at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up in children.
Baseline to 12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cost-effectiveness
Time Frame: During the 12-month follow-up period
Cost-effectiveness in this study refers to the economic evaluation assessing the balance between the resources invested and the health outcomes achieved in the context of childhood myopia prevention and control in resource-limited settings.
During the 12-month follow-up period
Duration of outdoor activity
Time Frame: During the 12-month follow-up period
Outdoor activity duration will be assessed through parent-reported daily diaries at each follow-up visit.
During the 12-month follow-up period

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Orbis
Shanghai United Foundation

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • QX-2026-A-011

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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