Low-intensity, long-wavelength red light slows the progression of myopia in children: an Eastern China-based cohort

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the effect of low-intensity, long-wavelength red light therapy (LLRT) on the inhibition of myopia progression in children.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted. One hundred and five myopic children (spherical equivalent refractive error [SER] −3.09 ± 1.74 dioptres [D]; mean age, 9.19 ± 2.40 years) who underwent LLRT treatment (power 0.4 mW, wavelength 635 nm) twice per day for 3 min each session, with at least a 4-h interval between sessions, and a control group of 56 myopic children (SER −3.04 ± 1.66 D; mean age, 8.62 ± 2.45 years) were evaluated. Both groups wore single-vision distance spectacles. Each child returned for a follow-up examination every 3 months after the initial measurements for a total of 9 months.

Results

At 9 months, the mean SER in the LLRT group was −2.87 ± 1.89 D, significantly greater than that of the control group (−3.57 ± 1.49 D, p < 0.001). Axial length (AL) changes were −0.06 ± 0.19 mm and 0.26 ± 0.15 mm in the LLRT group and control group (p < 0.001), respectively. The subfoveal choroidal thickness changed by 45.32 ± 30.88 μm for children treated with LLRT at the 9-month examination (p < 0.001). Specifically, a substantial hyperopic shift (0.31 ± 0.24 D and 0.20 ± 0.14 D, respectively, p = 0.02) was found in the 8–14 year olds compared with 4–7 year old children. The decrease in AL in subjects with baseline AL >24 mm was −0.08 ± 0.19 mm, significantly greater than those with a baseline AL ≤24 mm (−0.04 ± 0.18 mm, p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Repetitive exposure to LLRT therapy was associated with slower myopia progression and reduced axial growth after short durations of treatment. These results require further validation in randomised controlled trials.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *