Clinically Significant Axial Shortening in Myopic Children After Repeated Low-Level Red Light Therapy: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Myopia is recognized as a progressive eye disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and associated factors of clinically significant axial length (AL) shortening among myopic children following repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy. Methods: The clinical data that were collected for the myopic children aged 3-17 years who received an RLRL therapy delivered by homeuse desktop light device that emitted light at 650 nm for at least 1 year, were reviewed. The clinical data included AL, spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and visual acuity measured at baseline and follow-up. The primary outcomes were frequency of AL shortening of [ 0.05 mm, [ 0.10 mm, and [ 0.20 mm per year, and associated factors of AL shortening per year. Results: A total of 434 myopic children with at least 12 months of follow-up data were included. The mean age of participants was 9.7 (2.6) years with SER of -3.74 (2.60) diopters. There were 115 (26.50%), 76 (17.51%), and 20 (4.61%) children with AL shortening based on cutoffs of 0.05 mm/year, 0.10 mm/year, and 0.20 mm/ year, respectively. In the multivariable model, AL shortening was significantly associated with older baseline age, female gender, and longer baseline AL or greater spherical equivalent

Photobiomodulation therapy retarded axial length growth in children with myopia: evidence from a 12-month randomized controlled trial evidence

“…As shown in Table 5 , those results were consistent with our previous report and the studies of Xiong et al 3 , 4 , 20 . It was shown that myopia among children could be controlled or reversed to some extent by PBM therapy, resulting in a mean decrease in the AL.…”

“…As one of the most effective interventions compared with other interventions 12 – 18 , 20 , 21 , we found evidence supporting our hypothesis that the progression of myopia as measured by the AL is reversible using PBM therapy twice a day.…”

Red light instruments for myopia exceed safety limits

“…In animal studies, the duration of red light exposure was generally for the entire waking period (12-14 h per day), while protocols in children use 3 min of red light exposure twice a day. Since 2021, over 24 papers have been published on red light therapy for myopia, [2][3][4][5][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] including three review papers. [27][28][29] Eyerising International, manufacturer of the Eyerising Myopia Management Device, advertises the instrument for use in children as young as 3 years old, with online claims that over 100,000 children have been or are currently being treated.…”

“…In some cases, axial shortening has been reported. 3,25 Wang et al 3 reported that 22% of children experienced axial shortening greater than five microns after 12 months of LLRL therapy.…”

“…Published studies universally report high effectivity for myopia control, ranging from 65% to 87% treatment effect for reduced axial elongation and myopia progression. In some cases, axial shortening has been reported 3,25 . Wang et al 3 .…”