ConexiantCould Red-Light Therapy Change Myopia Care? 

A systematic review and meta‑analysis of 28 randomized controlled trials involving more than 3,500 pediatric patients found that repeated low‑level red‑light therapy was associated with reduced myopia progression over 12 months. Reported benefits included less refractive shift, slower axial elongation, and increased choroidal thickness compared with controls.

This analysis reflects short‑term efficacy signals from trials conducted primarily in China. Long‑term retinal safety, durability of effect after treatment cessation, and comparative effectiveness against established myopia‑control strategies remain uncertain.

Clinical Considerations

• Across pooled data, treatment was associated with a 0.68‑diopter improvement in spherical equivalent and 0.30 mm less axial elongation at 12 months compared with control groups.
• Treatment response appeared dose‑ and time‑dependent, with greater effects observed at longer follow‑up intervals.
• Subgroup analyses suggested larger effects in children with higher baseline myopia, though heterogeneity between trials was substantial.
• Short‑term anterior segment parameters remained stable, but retinal structural outcomes were inconsistently reported across studies.
• Reported adverse effects included transient afterimages, photophobia, dry eye, and occasional ocular surface findings, leading some patients to discontinue therapy.

Practice Applications

• For optometrists managing myopia progression: View red‑light therapy as an investigational option rather than a first‑line intervention; continue to prioritize established approaches such as atropine, optical interventions, and lifestyle counseling.
• For ophthalmologists: Be aware of growing patient interest and be prepared to discuss both potential benefits and unresolved retinal safety concerns.
• For both settings: Reinforce that current evidence is limited to 12‑month outcomes, with no clarity on rebound effects or cumulative retinal exposure beyond one year.
• When counseling families: Emphasize uncertainty around long‑term safety and the lack of direct comparisons with standard myopia‑control therapies.

More in Myopia