Results from a Spanish 12-month random control trial comparing combination repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) and orthokeratology (OK) vs OK alone for myopia control have been published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.1
The results demonstrated significantly slowed myopia progression in the RLRL group with mean axial shortening achieved.
The first European and fully Caucasian study of RLRL to be released, the results echo previous papers from China of combination RLRL and OK use in terms of efficacy, safety profile (no adverse events) and high treatment compliance (median 71%).
The first European and fully Caucasian study of RLRL to be released, the results echo previous papers from China
Effective and Safe Strategy
The single-site, randomised, parallel-group, non-blinded clinical trial, recruited Caucasian Spanish myopic children aged 10–13 years. They were recruited and assigned randomly either to the RCO group (11 children) or the OK group (15 children). All were assessed at six, nine, and 12 months after baseline.
A longitudinal mixed model was used to estimate the primary and secondary outcomes (axial length (AL) and macular thickness (MT) changes) at 12 months.
According to the published report, after 12 months, the adjusted mean AL change was −0.124 mm (95% CI −0.164 to −0.084) in the RCO group, whereas the OK group continued to exhibit a modest axial elongation of 0.102 mm (95% CI 0.068 to 0.136).
The adjusted mean difference in AL change between the groups (p<0.001) was −0.226 mm (95% CI −0.279 to −0.174). The adjusted mean change in MT showed no significant difference between groups at 12 months.
The authors reported that in the RCO group, 80% of children achieved AL shortening >−0.05 mm, whereas no children in the OK group showed AL shortening.
The authors concluded that “RLRL therapy with ortho-k is an effective and safe myopia control strategy in Caucasian Spanish children, supporting the potential generalisability of the synergistic effect across diverse ethnic groups”.
Reference
Fernández Fidalgo MJ, Ferigo Ferrel VD, Wu Y, et al. Repeated low-level red-light therapy combined with orthokeratology for myopia control in Spain: a randomised controlled study. British Journal of Ophthalmology published online First: 20 November 2025. doi: 10.1136/bjo-2025-328347
