Two new studies, published last month, have shed further light on the effect of repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy.
A new systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to assess the long-term effectiveness of RLRL in controlling myopia progression has been published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology.1 The review, which searched until March 2024, included the most randomised controlled trials and participants yet of any systematic review of RLRL, comprising 10 randomised controlled trials and 1,714 participants, 824 of which had been on RLRL.
Pooled effect sizes for axial length reduction and spherical equivalence refraction reduction were 0.953 and 1.521 respectively. This was also one of the few systematic reviews to evaluate for publication bias in RLRL literature, identifying no significant publication bias as per PET-PEESE analysis, and moderate heterogeneity between studies. The study concluded that long-term observations indicate RLRL significantly influences myopia management, but nevertheless highlighted the need for additional research into potential longer-term and rebound effects.
long-term observations indicate RLRL significantly influences myopia management, but nevertheless highlighted the need for additional research
Comparison To Peripheral Plus Spectacle Lenses
In a parallel investigation, a randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy of RLRL to peripheral plus spectacle lenses in 25 Chinese children with medium to high myopia of -4.00 diopters or more was published in Visual Neuroscience.2
Over a 12-month period, the RLRL group exhibited significantly less myopic progression in terms of both axial length and spherical equivalence refraction (-0.18mm, +0.28D) compared to controls (0.34mm, -0.79D), with both mean axial shortening and spherical equivalence regression noted among RLRL participants. No adverse events related to either treatment were reported, and the study concluded that RLRL was effective and well tolerated in controlling myopia compared to peripheral plus spectacle lenses.
The study builds on previous publications comparing the effect sizes of RLRL against 0.01% atropine3 and orthokeratology,4 both of which demonstrated that RLRL had superior myopia control effect.
Collectively, these studies highlight the evolving potential of RLRL as a viable and effective option for myopia control in children, with further research warranted into RLRL’s longer-term outcomes and tolerability.
References
- Ullah S, Umer MF, Chandran SP. Long-term effect of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia control: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2025 Feb 21:11206721251314541. doi: 10.1177/11206721251314541. Epub ahead of print.
- Yu J, Li B, Zhu H, et al. Efficacy comparison between repeated low-level red-light therapy and peripheral defocus spectacles to slow the progression of medium to high myopia in Chinese children. Visual Neuroscience. 2025;42:e002. doi: 10.48130/vns-0025-0001.
- Chen Y, Xiong R, Li J, et al. Efficacy comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A randomized controlled trial. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022 Oct 3;11(10):33. doi: 10.1167/tvst.11.10.33.
- Sun JR, Du ZQ, Wu GY. Efficacy comparison of repeated low-level red-light therapy and orthokeratology lenses for myopia control. Optom Vis Sci. 2024;101(11):660-665. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000002197.
