Repeated low-level red light therapy slows myopia progression in children, meta-analysis shows

Repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy can effectively slow the progression of myopia in children over 6-24 months, with greater benefits seen in those with higher baseline myopia and with more frequent treatment, according to a study.

In this meta-analysis, 20 studies involving 2,638 Chinese children aged 3 to 16 years were reviewed to assess changes in eye growth, refractive error, and choroidal thickness over 6 to 24 months.

Children receiving RLRL therapy experienced slower axial elongation, smaller increases in refractive error, and greater thickening of the subfoveal choroid compared with control groups. After 24 months, axial length increased 0.61 mm less and refractive error progressed 1.33 diopters less in the treated group. Treatment effectiveness appeared to be influenced by baseline myopia severity and therapy frequency.

Reference
Fan H, Yu J, Jiang A, et al. Effects of repeated low-level red light therapy on myopia progression in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025;12:1640403. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1640403. PMID: 40880774; PMCID: PMC12380900.