In a bid to address the growing level of short-sightedness here, the Singapore Eye Research Institute (Seri) is embarking on two separate trials that could pave the way to controlling myopia in children.
The first involves finding out the optimum dose of atropine drops, a drug proven by preliminary studies here to control myopia in youngsters successfully.
In the other, children will be introduced to Neurovision, a set of computerised, online visual exercises. These have helped adults with moderate myopia of up to 200 degrees see more clearly.
The research comes in the wake of reports that youngsters here are not only getting short-sighted younger than those in other countries, but that their vision is also deteriorating faster.
The institute's director, Associate Professor Donald Tan, said: 'So far, atropine has shown to hold the most promise in helping curb myopia.'
A preliminary study, Atropine In The Treatment Of Myopia 1 (Atom 1), showed that the drops cut the progression of myopia in children by about 80 per cent.
But it used a relatively high dose of the drug, which though safe, had some side effects.
Some of the youngsters had blurred vision while focusing on nearby objects. Some also found the glare uncomfortable when they went out into the sunlight.
It is these problems that the new study (Atom 2) - which will begin next month - hopes to address, said Dr Chua Wei Han, one of its lead investigators.
'We're working on the premise that by lowering the dose, some of these side effects can be lessened or even eliminated,' he explained.
Atropine, he pointed out, cannot cure myopia. It can only slow or hopefully stop its progress.
'So it would work only in children whose myopia is still progressing,' he said.
Eight-year-old Claris Tan is one potential beneficiary. The Primary 2 pupil's eyesight deteriorated a whopping 150 degrees in the past six months and she now has myopia of 300 degrees.
Her mum, Mrs Vivian Tan, 36, who has seen the effect of the eye drops on the eyesight of a neighbour's daughter, has already signed Claris up for the trial.
'I'm hoping Claris will be as lucky,' she said.
The researchers are planning to recruit about 350 children aged between six and 12 with myopia of more than 200 degrees for the study. Those who want to enrol their youngsters can call Seri on 6322-4500 during office hours.
By the end of the year, Seri plans to test how children respond to Neurovision.
Said Prof Tan: 'We want to see whether we can achieve similar results in them as those seen in adults.'
Seri is looking to recruit about 200 children aged between seven and nine for this study.