A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective study

Purpose: To compare the long-term efficacy between repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy and low-dose atropine (LDA) eye drops for myopia control. Methods: Treatment naïve myopic children receiving RLRL or LDA therapy were retrospectively included. The spherical equivalent (SE) and axial lengt...

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Main Authors: Mingming Zhang, Yinghui Shi, Yuexin Wang, Yangguang Li, Jian Qin, Xiaobing Wang, Ying Jie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572100025002868
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author Mingming Zhang
Yinghui Shi
Yuexin Wang
Yangguang Li
Jian Qin
Xiaobing Wang
Ying Jie
author_facet Mingming Zhang
Yinghui Shi
Yuexin Wang
Yangguang Li
Jian Qin
Xiaobing Wang
Ying Jie
author_sort Mingming Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: To compare the long-term efficacy between repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy and low-dose atropine (LDA) eye drops for myopia control. Methods: Treatment naïve myopic children receiving RLRL or LDA therapy were retrospectively included. The spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL) were evaluated at baseline and 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up. The myopia progression and regression were compared between groups. Results: In total, 122 myopic children were enrolled. The SE progression and AL elongation were significantly less in the RLRL than in the LDA group at 6 months (P = 0.002, SE; P = 0.004, AL), 12 months (P < 0.001) and 24 months (P < 0.001). For patients with RLRL, the SE progression was greater during the second than the first year (P = 0.05). The proportion of patients with SE regression in the RLRL group was greater than that in the LDA group at 12 months (P = 0.003), and the AL shortening proportion was significantly greater in the RLRL group than in the LDA group at 6 months (P = 0.001), 12 months (P = 0.001), and 24 months (P = 0.049). Eight adverse events were reported in the RLRL group without irreversible structural damage. Conclusion: The present research demonstrates that RLRL treatment is more effective than 0.01 % atropine in delaying myopia progression and observes a greater percentage of patients with SE regression and AL shortening in myopic children over two years.
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spelling doaj-art-5e82eef5ea744407a8594116bec16b972025-08-20T05:04:57ZengElsevierPhotodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy1572-10002025-10-015510475410.1016/j.pdpdt.2025.104754A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective studyMingming Zhang0Yinghui Shi1Yuexin Wang2Yangguang Li3Jian Qin4Xiaobing Wang5Ying Jie6Vision Research Center, Sport and Medicine Integrative Innovation Center, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, ChinaShiyinghui Clinic, Henan province, ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, ChinaShiyinghui Clinic, Henan province, ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Henan Eye Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan province, ChinaVision Research Center, Sport and Medicine Integrative Innovation Center, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China; Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Corresponding author at: Vision Research Center, Sport and Medicine Integrative Innovation Center, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Corresponding author at: Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.Purpose: To compare the long-term efficacy between repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy and low-dose atropine (LDA) eye drops for myopia control. Methods: Treatment naïve myopic children receiving RLRL or LDA therapy were retrospectively included. The spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL) were evaluated at baseline and 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up. The myopia progression and regression were compared between groups. Results: In total, 122 myopic children were enrolled. The SE progression and AL elongation were significantly less in the RLRL than in the LDA group at 6 months (P = 0.002, SE; P = 0.004, AL), 12 months (P < 0.001) and 24 months (P < 0.001). For patients with RLRL, the SE progression was greater during the second than the first year (P = 0.05). The proportion of patients with SE regression in the RLRL group was greater than that in the LDA group at 12 months (P = 0.003), and the AL shortening proportion was significantly greater in the RLRL group than in the LDA group at 6 months (P = 0.001), 12 months (P = 0.001), and 24 months (P = 0.049). Eight adverse events were reported in the RLRL group without irreversible structural damage. Conclusion: The present research demonstrates that RLRL treatment is more effective than 0.01 % atropine in delaying myopia progression and observes a greater percentage of patients with SE regression and AL shortening in myopic children over two years.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572100025002868MyopiaRepeated low-level red lightLow-dose atropine
spellingShingle Mingming Zhang
Yinghui Shi
Yuexin Wang
Yangguang Li
Jian Qin
Xiaobing Wang
Ying Jie
A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective study
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Myopia
Repeated low-level red light
Low-dose atropine
title A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective study
title_full A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective study
title_fullStr A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective study
title_short A comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A two-year retrospective study
title_sort comparison of repeated low level red light and low dose atropine for myopia control a two year retrospective study
topic Myopia
Repeated low-level red light
Low-dose atropine
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572100025002868
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