Low-Level Light Therapy as a Potential Prophylaxis of Myopia: A Literature Review Review article
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Published:
May 20, 2025
Keywords:
low-level light therapy, myopia, photobiomodulation
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Abstract
Myopia is a common refractive problem found in children and adults. High myopia can lead to severe ocular complications; therefore, controlling myopia is very important as a prophylactic measure. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is starting to be widely used as an intervention to control myopia. This article describes myopia control using LLLT, aiming for the public and clinicians to understand and utilize this technology optimally. Based on clinical studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), LLLT was shown to be effective in controlling myopia through significant changes in axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and choroidal thickness. Although the current studies are from China, LLLT can also be considered for myopia control in other countries.
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1.
Sarsono MC. Low-Level Light Therapy as a Potential Prophylaxis of Myopia: A Literature Review. Ophthatherapy [Internet]. 2025May20 [cited 2025May22];00. Available from: https://www.journalsmededu.pl/index.php/ophthatherapy/article/view/3131
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Diagnostics
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Address reprint requests to: Medical Education, Marcin Kuźma (marcin.kuzma@mededu.pl)
References
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15. Lin ZH, Tao ZY, Kang ZF et al. A Study on the Effectiveness of 650-nm Red-Light Feeding Instruments in the Control of Myopia. Ophthalmic Res. 2023; 66(1): 664-71.
16. Xiong R, Zhu Z, Jiang Y et al. Longitudinal Changes and Predictive Value of Choroidal Thickness for Myopia Control after Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy. Ophthalmology. 2023; 130(3): 286-96.
17. Liu L, Wang Y, Liu F et al. Effects of repeated low-level red-light therapy on macular retinal thickness and microvascular system in children with myopia. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2024; 45: 103938.
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22. Cao K, Tian L, Ma DL et al. Daily Low-Level Red Light for Spherical Equivalent Error and Axial Length in Children With Myopia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024; 142(6): 560-7.
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24. Chen Y, Xiong R, Chen X et al. Efficacy Comparison of Repeated Low-Level Red Light and Low-Dose Atropine for Myopia Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022; 11(10): 33.
25. Xiong R, Wang W, Tang X et al. Myopia Control Effect of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy Combined with Orthokeratology: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Ophthalmology. 2024; 131(11): 1304-13.
26. Xiong F, Mao T, Liao H et al. Orthokeratology and Low-Intensity Laser Therapy for Slowing the Progression of Myopia in Children. Biomed Res Int. 2021; 2021: 8915867.
27. Xiong R, Zhu Z, Jiang Y et al. Sustained and rebound effect of repeated low-level red-light therapy on myopia control: A 2-year post-trial follow-up study. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2022; 50(9): 1013-24.
28. Chen H, Wang W, Liao Y et al. Low-intensity red-light therapy in slowing myopic progression and the rebound effect after its cessation in Chinese children: a randomized controlled trial. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023; 261(2): 575-84.
29. Ostrin LA, Schill AW. Red light instruments for myopia exceed safety limits. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2024; 44(2): 241-8.
30. Zhu M, Liu Y, Fang D et al. Safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for children with myopia. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2024; 47: 104198.
31. Liu G, Rong H, Liu Y et al. Effectiveness of repeated low-level red light in myopia prevention and myopia control. Br J Ophthalmol. 2024; 108(9): 1299-305.
2. Subudhi P, Agarwal P. Myopia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL) 2024.
3. Saluja G, Kaur K. Childhood Myopia and Ocular Development. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL) 2024.
4. Jiang Y, Zhu Z, Tan X et al. Effect of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Myopia Control in Children: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Ophthalmology. 2022; 129(5): 509-19.
5. Suwal A, Hao JL, Zhou DD. Use of Intense Pulsed Light to Mitigate Meibomian Gland Dysfunction for Dry Eye Disease. Int J Med Sci. 2020; 17(10): 1385-92.
6. Marta A, Baptista PM, Heitor Marques J et al. Intense Pulsed Plus Low-Level Light Therapy in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Clin Ophthalmol Auckl NZ. 2021; 15: 2803-11.
7. Zhu Q, Cao X, Zhang Y et al. Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Controlling Onset and Progression of Myopia-a Review. Int J Med Sci. 2023; 20(10): 1363-76.
8. He X, Wang J, Zhu Z et al. Effect of Repeated Low-level Red Light on Myopia Prevention Among Children in China With Premyopia. JAMA Netw Open. 2023; 6(4): e239612.
9. Dong J, Zhu Z, Xu H et al. Myopia Control Effect of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy in Chinese Children: A Randomized, Double- Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial. Ophthalmology. 2023; 130(2): 198-204.
10. Xu Y, Cui L, Kong M et al. Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Myopia Control in High Myopia Children and Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ophthalmology. 2024; S0161-6420(24)00318-X.
11. Liu G, Li B, Rong H et al. Axial Length Shortening and Choroid Thickening in Myopic Adults Treated with Repeated Low-Level Red Light. J Clin Med. 2022; 11(24): 7498.
12. Wang W, Jiang Y, Zhu Z et al. Clinically Significant Axial Shortening in Myopic Children After Repeated Low-Level Red Light Therapy: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis. Ophthalmol Ther. 2023; 12(2): 999-1011.
13. Zhang H, Cui M, Jie Y et al. Efficacy of repeated low-level red-light therapy in the prevention and control of myopia in children. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2024; 47: 104216.
14. Qiu K, David C, Li Y et al. A retrospective study of cumulative absolute reduction in axial length after photobiomodulation therapy. BMC Ophthalmol. 2024; 24(1): 191.
15. Lin ZH, Tao ZY, Kang ZF et al. A Study on the Effectiveness of 650-nm Red-Light Feeding Instruments in the Control of Myopia. Ophthalmic Res. 2023; 66(1): 664-71.
16. Xiong R, Zhu Z, Jiang Y et al. Longitudinal Changes and Predictive Value of Choroidal Thickness for Myopia Control after Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy. Ophthalmology. 2023; 130(3): 286-96.
17. Liu L, Wang Y, Liu F et al. Effects of repeated low-level red-light therapy on macular retinal thickness and microvascular system in children with myopia. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2024; 45: 103938.
18. Xuan M, Zhu Z, Jiang Y et al. Longitudinal Changes in Choroidal Structure Following Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Myopia Control: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2023; 12(4): 377-83.
19. Zhao C, Ni Y, Zeng J. Effect of red-light therapy on retinal and choroidal blood perfusion in myopic children. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2023; 43(6): 1427-37.
20. Zhou L, Tong L, Li Y et al. Photobiomodulation therapy retarded axial length growth in children with myopia: evidence from a 12-month randomized controlled trial evidence. Sci Rep. 2023; 13: 3321.
21. Liu Z, Sun Z, Du B et al. The Effects of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy on the Structure and Vasculature of the Choroid and Retina in Children with Premyopia. Ophthalmol Ther. 2024; 13(3): 739-59.
22. Cao K, Tian L, Ma DL et al. Daily Low-Level Red Light for Spherical Equivalent Error and Axial Length in Children With Myopia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024; 142(6): 560-7.
23. Swiatczak B, Schaeffel F. Effects of short-term exposure to red or near-infrared light on axial length in young human subjects. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2024; 44(5): 954-62.
24. Chen Y, Xiong R, Chen X et al. Efficacy Comparison of Repeated Low-Level Red Light and Low-Dose Atropine for Myopia Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022; 11(10): 33.
25. Xiong R, Wang W, Tang X et al. Myopia Control Effect of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy Combined with Orthokeratology: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Ophthalmology. 2024; 131(11): 1304-13.
26. Xiong F, Mao T, Liao H et al. Orthokeratology and Low-Intensity Laser Therapy for Slowing the Progression of Myopia in Children. Biomed Res Int. 2021; 2021: 8915867.
27. Xiong R, Zhu Z, Jiang Y et al. Sustained and rebound effect of repeated low-level red-light therapy on myopia control: A 2-year post-trial follow-up study. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2022; 50(9): 1013-24.
28. Chen H, Wang W, Liao Y et al. Low-intensity red-light therapy in slowing myopic progression and the rebound effect after its cessation in Chinese children: a randomized controlled trial. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023; 261(2): 575-84.
29. Ostrin LA, Schill AW. Red light instruments for myopia exceed safety limits. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2024; 44(2): 241-8.
30. Zhu M, Liu Y, Fang D et al. Safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for children with myopia. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2024; 47: 104198.
31. Liu G, Rong H, Liu Y et al. Effectiveness of repeated low-level red light in myopia prevention and myopia control. Br J Ophthalmol. 2024; 108(9): 1299-305.