Impact of repeated low-level red-light therapy on myopia progression in the school-age population: a clinical assessment

To observe changes in axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SE), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in children aged 7–12 years with myopia following repeated low-level red-light therapy with single-vision spectacles (RLRL + SVS); and to compare axial elongation control among the RLRL + SVS, highly aspherical lenslet target (HALT) spectacles, and SVS-alone groups. In this retrospective, non-randomized study, a total of 101 children with myopia were categorized into three groups: RLRL + SVS ( n = 36), HALT ( n = 38), and SVS ( n = 27). AL in the RLRL + SVS group was observed before and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment; SE and SFCT were measured before and at 6 months; and AL in the HALT and SVS groups was measured before and at 6 months. In the RLRL + SVS group, AL decreased from baseline at 1 and 3 months post-treatment ( P < 0.001), with no difference at 6 months ( P = 0.230). At 6 months, SE changed from − 2.40 ± 1.02 D to − 2.27 ± 1.05 D, and SFCT increased from 234.87 ± 40.57 μm to 253.86 ± 45.34 μm; both changes were statistically significant. Mean AL changes from baseline to 6 months were − 0.03 ± 0.11, 0.02 ± 0.14, and 0.22 ± 0.12 mm in the RLRL + SVS, HALT, and SVS groups, respectively ( P < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed no difference between the RLRL + SVS and HALT groups ( P = 0.270) but both differed from the SVS group ( P < 0.001). No statistically significant difference in AL control was observed between the RLRL + SVS and HALT groups at 6 months. Repeated RLRL therapy plus SVS for 6 months effectively controlled myopia progression in school-age children with no ocular adverse events observed.