Study confirms safety profile of red-light therapy for myopia control

Low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy for myopia control appears to have a favorable safety profile, with no permanent vision loss or irreversible ocular damage reported, though temporary side effects like afterimages may occur, according to a study.

Researchers analyzed data from 20 studies involving 2,380 patients between the ages of 3 to 18 years. Of these, 1,436 were treated with RLRL therapy.

There were no cases of permanent vision loss or irreversible structural damage. Temporary afterimages, the most common side effect, resolved within 6 minutes post-treatment. There were 2 reports of reversible visual acuity decline and optical coherence tomography abnormalities were noted in a single patient, with full recovery occurring within 4 months of discontinuing therapy.

The risk-to-benefit analysis indicated a favorable ratio for individuals with moderate to high myopia (-3D to -8D), with side effect incidences at 0.088 per 100 patient-years.

Recommendations for safe implementation include fundus photography, OCT monitoring, and home assessments of visual acuity and afterimages.

The analysis showed that the benefits of RLRL therapy outweigh the risks for people with moderate to high myopia (-3D to -8D), with side effects being infrequent (about 0.088 cases per 100 patient-years). To ensure safe use, monitoring patients with OCT and tracking vision changes and afterimages at home is recommended.

Reference
Chen Y, Xiong R, Yang S, et al. Safety of Repeated Low-level Red-light Therapy for Myopia: A Systematic Review. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2024;100124. doi: 10.1016/j.apjo.2024.100124. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39672511.