Study of Theories About Myopia Progression (STAMP)

At this time, we do not know what causes a child to become more nearsighted (myopic). STAMP will help us better understand nearsightedness in children. Children will be randomly chosen to wear regular glasses (single vision lenses) or no-line bifocal glasses (progressive addition lenses) for the first year of the study. All children will wear regular glasses for the second year of the study. STAMP will compare how the eye changes shape in the two groups to help us understand why children become nearsighted. The two theories of myopia progression that are being evaluated are based on different factors. One theory is based on environmental factors such as extended near work while the other theory is based on genetically coded factors.