Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2025
Scleral Cross-linking Using Riboflavin and Ultraviolet-A Radiation for Prevention of Axial Myopia in a Rabbit Model
Published on: April 3, 2016
Photobiomodulation therapy retarded axial length growth in children with myopia: evidence from a 12-month randomized
Lei Zhou1, Liyang Tong1, Ying Li2,3
1Department of Optometry, Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Insights
Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy effectively slowed eye growth in children with myopia. This myopia control method showed a significant reduction in axial length and refractive error progression over 12 months.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Myopia is a growing global health concern in children.
- Effective myopia control strategies are crucial to prevent vision impairment.
- Axial length elongation is a key factor in myopia progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in controlling myopia progression in children.
- To determine if PBM therapy can retard ocular axial length (AL) elongation.
- To assess changes in refractive error and other ocular parameters.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled clinical trial involving 50 children aged 8-12 years with myopia.
- Participants were assigned to either PBM therapy or a control group using single vision spectacles.
- Ocular axial length, cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and other ocular parameters were measured over 12 months.
Main Results:
- PBM therapy significantly reduced axial length growth by 0.50 mm compared to the control group (P < 0.001).
- A mean difference of +1.25 D in cycloplegic SER was observed, favoring the PBM group (P < 0.001).
- No significant differences were found in subfoveal choroidal thickness, anterior chamber depth, or central corneal refractive power.
Conclusions:
- Photobiomodulation therapy is an effective intervention for controlling myopia progression in children.
- PBM therapy demonstrates potential in slightly decreasing axial length to manage myopia.
- Further research may explore long-term effects and optimal PBM protocols for myopia control.
Abstract:
To determine whether photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy can retard ocular axial length (AL) in children with myopia. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on two consecutive cohorts of 50 eligible children aged 8-12 years with ≤ - 0.75 Diopter (D) of spherical equivalent refraction (SER). Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 25) and treated with PBM therapy or the control group (n = 25) and treated with single vision spectacles only. At the 12-month follow-up, the changes in AL and cycloplegic SER from baseline were both compared between the two groups. In addition, the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFChT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and central corneal refractive power (CCP) were analysed at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups, respectively. Among the 50 children, 78% were included at the final follow-up, with a mean age of 9.7 ± 1.5 years and a mean SER of - 2.56 ± 1.70. The mean difference in AL growth between the two groups at 12 months was 0.50 mm (PBM vs. Control, - 0.02 mm ± 0.11 vs. 0.48 mm ± 0.16, P < 0.001), and the mean difference in cycloplegic SER at 12 months was + 1.25 D (PBM vs. Control, + 0.28 D ± 0.26 vs. - 0.97 D ± 0.25, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in any of the other parameters (including SFChT, ACD, and CCP) between the two groups at any time point. PBM therapy is an effective intervention for slightly decreasing the AL to control myopia in children.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2100043619. Registered on 23/02/2021; prospectively registered. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=121302 .
