Does eye-transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation reduce myopia incidence in children?
Myopia (nearsightedness) is becoming more common in children. Eye-transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (ETEAS) is a non-invasive treatment that uses mild electrical pulses on acupoints around the eyes. A recent high-quality trial tested whether ETEAS can prevent myopia in children who are at risk. The short answer is yes: the study found that ETEAS reduced the number of children who developed myopia over 48 weeks compared to a sham (fake) treatment.
What the research says
A 2026 multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled trial included 680 children aged 6 to 12 years with premyopia (eyes that are not yet nearsighted but are at risk) 19. Children were randomly assigned to receive real ETEAS or a sham device for 24 weeks (at least 3 times per week, 30 minutes per session), then followed for another 24 weeks without treatment 19. The primary outcome was the rate of new myopia at 48 weeks, defined as a certain level of nearsightedness 19. The results showed that ETEAS significantly reduced myopia incidence compared to sham stimulation 19. This suggests that ETEAS may be a safe, non-drug option to help prevent myopia in children. However, this is a single trial, and more studies are needed to confirm the findings and understand long-term effects. Other approaches to myopia control in children include atropine eye drops 3, special spectacle lenses like highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) 45, and increasing outdoor activity 8. These methods work differently and may be combined with ETEAS, but no studies have directly compared them.
What to ask your doctor
- Is my child a candidate for ETEAS, given their current eye prescription and age?
- How does ETEAS compare with other myopia prevention options like atropine drops or special glasses?
- What is the recommended frequency and duration of ETEAS sessions, and how long should treatment continue?
- Are there any known side effects or risks of ETEAS for children?
- Can ETEAS be used together with other myopia control methods?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Ophthalmology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.