Three-year efficacy and safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia control: a multicentre real-world study
Chen Y, Wang W, Xiong R, Yu F, Pan S, Dong J, Zhang J, Zhu Z, Ding X, Wang B, Chen Y, Chan HH, Choi KY, Chan SSH, Zheng Y, Shi D, Aung Y, Kishi S, Ohno-Matsui K, He M
The British journal of ophthalmology · 4 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Henry G. Leong Endowed Professorship in Elderly Vision Health
- Unclassified
- Global STEM Professorship Scheme
Based on 2 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2026-01-20 · Br J Ophthalmol · vol. 110 · issue 9 · pp. 1028–1035
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Cited
- 9 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 46.3× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 34 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies · Retinopathy of Prematurity Studies · Retinal Development and Disorders
- Keywords
- Clinical trial, MEDLINE, Eye disease, Visual acuity
- MeSH
- humans, myopia, disease progression, refraction, ocular, treatment outcome, follow-up studies, visual acuity, time factors, adolescent, child, female, male, red light
20 authors
From HK, CN, AU, GB
- Yanping ChenHong Kong Polytechnic University; Sun Yat-sen University
- Wei WangSun Yat-sen University
- Ruilin XiongSun Yat-sen University
- Fang Yu · corresponding
- Shaoxin PanWannan Medical College
- Jing DongBaotou Medical College
Abstract
Background
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy for controlling myopia progression over 3 years in real-world settings.
Methods
This multicentre cohort study included participants currently undergoing RLRL treatment, identified from electronic medical databases in three hospitals (myopic children and adolescents aged 7-18 years, who were prescribed RLRL therapy from 1 June 2018 to 1 June 2023), using stratified random sampling based on RLRL treatment duration (≥0.5-1 year, ≥1-2 years, ≥2-3 years and ≥3 years), with approximately 90 participants in each group. All participants voluntarily received RLRL therapy twice a daily (3 min/session, ≥4-hour interval), 5-7 days/week.
Results
Among 362 participants, 90 were treated for ≥0.5-1 year (median 0.64 year), 91 for ≥1-2 years (median 1.40 years), 90 for ≥2-3 years (median 2.30 years) and 91 for ≥3 years (median 3.65 years). The satisfactory myopia control rate (defined as annual axial elongation ≤0.10 mm) was 72.53% (95% CI 62.17 to 81.37) over ≥3 years of RLRL treatment, with annual axial length change of 0.06 mm/year (95% CI 0.03 to 0.08). No subjective visual function damage was documented by best-corrected visual acuity, and no treatment duration-dependent changes in objective full-field electroretinogram were observed. A minimal, reversible optical coherence tomography change was noted in four eyes which did not impact visual function.
Conclusions
This real-world study demonstrates that RLRL therapy provides promising long-term efficacy and safety in myopia control over 3 years among Chinese myopic children and adolescents.
Trial registration number
NCT05871840.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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