The strong efficacy of repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) on slowing myopia progression in high myopia has been demonstrated in recent studies published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals: Ophthalmology1 and American Journal of Ophthalmology.2
High myopia, typically defined as a refractive error of -5.00 or -6.00 diopters (D) or more, afflicts approximately 4% of the world population.3,4 It carries significantly increased risks of numerous myopia-related and vision-threatening complications, such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, and myopic macular degeneration.3-5
To date, there is limited evidence for the efficacy of well-known myopia control interventions in high myopia, as often these patients are excluded from myopia studies.4
About RLRL
RLRL involves the home use of a red-light device emitting visible red light of 650 nm wavelength from a low-level laser.
The studies published in Ophthalmology1 and American Journal of Ophthalmology2
explored the efficacy of RLRL using the Eyerising device, which is to be used for three minutes, twice daily, five days per week.
The Eyerising device has been studied in numerous other peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating significant myopic effect6 and a strong safety profile.7 The Eyerising device is also the only RLRL device available internationally, including in Australia and New Zealand.
Study 1: RLRL For Children With -4.00D or More1
This 12-month randomised controlled trial of 192 children, published in Ophthalmology, 1 found significantly lesser change of axial length and spherical equivalence in the RLRL group (-0.06mm, +0.11D) in comparison to the control group (0.34mm, -0.75D), with mean axial shortening and reversal of refraction diopter observed in the RLRL group. Significant axial shortening >0.05 mm was observed in 50.3% of RLRL patients, far superior to the 20-30% reported in previous studies.8-10 No adverse events were noted, including no change on optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Study 2: RLRL For Children With -6.00D Or More2
This 12-month randomised controlled trial of 202 children, published in American Journal of Ophthalmology,2 similarly found significant mean axial shortening and reversal of refraction diopter in the RLRL group (-0.11 mm, +0.18D) compared to continued myopic progression in the control group (0.32 mm, -0.80D). Significant axial shortening >0.05 mm was again observed in 59.0% of the RLRL group. No adverse events were noted, including no change on OCT.
Notable Results in High Myopia
With stronger results reported in highly myopic populations using RLRL compared to normal myopia, these two studies suggest the potential of RLRL as a treatment for patients with high myopia. This includes a greater degree of significant axial shortening and reversal of refraction diopter noted, therefore carrying a lesser risk of the vision-threatening complications of each diopter increase. Of note, it has been demonstrated that even a 1D increase in myopia increases the risk of myopic maculopathy by 67%, implying that slowing myopia by 1D reduces the likelihood of myopic maculopathy by 40%.11
Eyerising International also reports that a study of RLRL in high myopia, led by Professor Kyoko Ohno-Matsui and concluding in Japan, has promising preliminary results similar to the two studies on high myopia above.
Eyerising International… is offering Australian clinicians a unique opportunity to trial RLRL on their high myopia patients for free
Your First Patient Free
Given this unmet need in high myopia, Eyerising International, the manufacturers of the Eyerising device in Australia, is now offering Australian clinicians a unique opportunity to trial RLRL on their high myopia patients for free.
The company is offering a free two-year subscription for the first highly myopic patient a practice chooses to treat with the Eyerising device.
For further information email: info@eyerisinginternational.com.
References
- Liu G, Liu L, Wei R, et al. Axial shortening effects of repeated low-level red-light therapy in children with high myopia: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 2024 Oct 16:S0002-9394(24)00481-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.10.011.
- Xu Y, Cui L, Zou H, et al. Repeated low-level red light therapy for myopia control in high myopia children and adolescents: A randomized clinical trial. Ophthalmology. 2024 Nov;131(11):1314-1323. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.05.023.
- Jonas JB, Ang M, Wolffsohn JS, et al. IMI prevention of myopia and its progression. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2021 Apr 28;62(5):6. doi: 10.1167/iovs.62.5.6.
- Shah R, Vlasak N, Evans BJW. High myopia: Reviews of myopia control strategies and myopia complications. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2024 Sep;44(6):1248-1260. doi: 10.1111/opo.13366.
- Walline JJ. Myopia control: A review. Eye Contact Lens. 2016 Jan;42(1):3-8. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000207.
- Youssef MA, Shehata AR, Adly AM, et al. Efficacy of repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy on myopia outcomes in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Ophthalmol 24, 78 (2024). org/10.1186/s12886-024-03337-5
- Chen Y, Xiong R, He M, et al. Safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia: A systematic review. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2024 Dec 11:100124. doi: 10.1016/j.apjo.2024.100124.
- Wang W, Jiang Y, He M, et al. Clinically significant axial shortening in myopic children after repeated low-level red light therapy: A retrospective multicenter analysis. Ophthalmology and Therapy. 2023:1-3.
- Liu G, Rong H, Liu Y, et al Effectiveness of repeated low-level red light in myopia prevention and myopia control. British Journal of Ophthalmology Published Online First: 17 April 2024. doi: 10.1136/bjo-2023-324260
- Wang W, Jiang Y, Yuan Y, et al. Axial shortening in myopic children after repeated low-level red-light therapy: Post hoc analysis of a randomized trial. Ophthalmology and Therapy. 2023:1-5.
- Bullimore MA, Brennan NA. Myopia control: Why each diopter matters. Optom Vis Sci. 2019 Jun;96(6):463-465. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001367.