Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy in intervening in the progression of myopia in children.MethodsWe searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI databases for relevant studies published from the inception of the...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1640403/full |
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| author | Haobo Fan Haobo Fan Jia Yu Jia Yu Aiming Jiang Aiming Jiang Qiumei Wei Xuemin Zhang Airui Xie Airui Xie Junguo Duan Junguo Duan Junguo Duan Junguo Duan |
| author_facet | Haobo Fan Haobo Fan Jia Yu Jia Yu Aiming Jiang Aiming Jiang Qiumei Wei Xuemin Zhang Airui Xie Airui Xie Junguo Duan Junguo Duan Junguo Duan Junguo Duan |
| author_sort | Haobo Fan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy in intervening in the progression of myopia in children.MethodsWe searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI databases for relevant studies published from the inception of the databases to 30 April 2025. Subsequently, studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and basic information and outcome data of the included studies were recorded. The risk of bias in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies was assessed using the RoB 2.0 tool and the NOS, respectively. Finally, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4, and meta-regression, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment were conducted using STATA 17.ResultsA total of 20 studies were included in this study, involving 2,638 Chinese children, aged from 3 to 16 years, with a baseline spherical equivalent refraction (SER) ranging between +0.75 and −10.00 diopters. A meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the RLRL group had a slower axial elongation, a lower progression of SER, and a greater increase in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT). The changes in axial length (AL) at the 6th, 12th, and 24th months of follow-up in the RLRL group relative to the control group were −0.22 mm (95% CI: −0.25, −0.18; p < 0.00001), −0.30 mm (95% CI: −0.36, −0.24; p < 0.00001), and −0.61 mm (95% CI: −0.71, −0.52; p < 0.00001), respectively. The corresponding changes in SER at these time points were 0.40 D (95% CI: 0.31, 0.50; p < 0.00001), 0.61 D (95% CI: 0.47, 0.76; p < 0.00001), and 1.33 D (95% CI: 0.62, 2.03; p = 0.0002). Additionally, the changes in SFCT at the 6th and 12th months of follow-up were 31.21 μm (95% CI: 22.03, 40.38; p < 0.00001) and 29.72 μm (95% CI: 19.53, 39.92; p < 0.00001), respectively. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis revealed that the baseline SER and treatment frequency primarily contributed to the heterogeneity observed in this study.ConclusionThis meta-analysis confirmed that RLRL therapy can effectively delay the progression of myopia in children during a 6–24 months follow-up, and the efficacy appears to be directly related to the degree of the baseline myopia and the LRLR treatment frequency. However, a causal relationship has been suggested between retinal damage and LRLR treatments, which requires further investigations.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251018947. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac8e236d3c9a431dafd7a07b9bd7ddfa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac8e236d3c9a431dafd7a07b9bd7ddfa2025-08-20T03:37:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16404031640403Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysisHaobo Fan0Haobo Fan1Jia Yu2Jia Yu3Aiming Jiang4Aiming Jiang5Qiumei Wei6Xuemin Zhang7Airui Xie8Airui Xie9Junguo Duan10Junguo Duan11Junguo Duan12Junguo Duan13Eye College of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Optometry and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaEye College of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Optometry and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaEye College of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Optometry and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Optometry and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Optometry and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaEye College of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Optometry and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaEye College of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Optometry and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Sichuan Province Ophthalmopathy Prevention & Cure and Visual Function Protection with TCM Laboratory, Chengdu, ChinaRetinal Image Technology and Chronic Vascular Disease Prevention & Control and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, ChinaPurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy in intervening in the progression of myopia in children.MethodsWe searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI databases for relevant studies published from the inception of the databases to 30 April 2025. Subsequently, studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and basic information and outcome data of the included studies were recorded. The risk of bias in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies was assessed using the RoB 2.0 tool and the NOS, respectively. Finally, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4, and meta-regression, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment were conducted using STATA 17.ResultsA total of 20 studies were included in this study, involving 2,638 Chinese children, aged from 3 to 16 years, with a baseline spherical equivalent refraction (SER) ranging between +0.75 and −10.00 diopters. A meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the RLRL group had a slower axial elongation, a lower progression of SER, and a greater increase in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT). The changes in axial length (AL) at the 6th, 12th, and 24th months of follow-up in the RLRL group relative to the control group were −0.22 mm (95% CI: −0.25, −0.18; p < 0.00001), −0.30 mm (95% CI: −0.36, −0.24; p < 0.00001), and −0.61 mm (95% CI: −0.71, −0.52; p < 0.00001), respectively. The corresponding changes in SER at these time points were 0.40 D (95% CI: 0.31, 0.50; p < 0.00001), 0.61 D (95% CI: 0.47, 0.76; p < 0.00001), and 1.33 D (95% CI: 0.62, 2.03; p = 0.0002). Additionally, the changes in SFCT at the 6th and 12th months of follow-up were 31.21 μm (95% CI: 22.03, 40.38; p < 0.00001) and 29.72 μm (95% CI: 19.53, 39.92; p < 0.00001), respectively. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis revealed that the baseline SER and treatment frequency primarily contributed to the heterogeneity observed in this study.ConclusionThis meta-analysis confirmed that RLRL therapy can effectively delay the progression of myopia in children during a 6–24 months follow-up, and the efficacy appears to be directly related to the degree of the baseline myopia and the LRLR treatment frequency. However, a causal relationship has been suggested between retinal damage and LRLR treatments, which requires further investigations.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251018947.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1640403/fullsystematic reviewmeta-analysismyopiarepeated low-level red lightchildren |
| spellingShingle | Haobo Fan Haobo Fan Jia Yu Jia Yu Aiming Jiang Aiming Jiang Qiumei Wei Xuemin Zhang Airui Xie Airui Xie Junguo Duan Junguo Duan Junguo Duan Junguo Duan Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Medicine systematic review meta-analysis myopia repeated low-level red light children |
| title | Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effects of repeated low level red light therapy on myopia progression in children a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | systematic review meta-analysis myopia repeated low-level red light children |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1640403/full |
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