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Low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Dillan Cunha Amaral1, Sávio Batista1, Edson Dos Santos-Neto2
1Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Insights
Low-Level Red-Light (LLRL) therapy shows promise for improving myopia in children by reducing spherical equivalent error and axial length. This safe, non-invasive treatment is effective in the short term, but long-term studies are needed.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Photomedicine
Background:
- Myopia, a common vision disorder in children, presents a growing public health concern.
- Current myopia management strategies have limitations, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic approaches.
- Low-Level Red-Light (LLRL) therapy is emerging as a potential non-invasive treatment for various conditions, but its application in pediatric myopia requires further investigation.
Approach:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
- Searched major databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Embase) for relevant studies up to November 2022.
- Included randomized controlled trials and observational studies of LLRL therapy in children aged 3–15 with myopia, excluding those with other ocular abnormalities.
Key Points:
- Five studies (4 RCTs, 1 observational) involving 685 children were analyzed.
- LLRL therapy demonstrated statistically significant improvements in refractive error (Spherical Equivalent Error) and axial length elongation compared to control groups.
- No significant adverse effects were reported between LLRL and control groups.
Conclusions:
- LLRL therapy appears to be a safe and effective short-term treatment for pediatric myopia.
- Further long-term studies are warranted to fully understand its efficacy and compare it with existing myopia control interventions.
Introduction:
Low-Level Red-Light (LLRL) Therapy is a safe and natural way to promote healing and reduce inflammation in the body. When it comes to treating myopia in children, LLRL therapy is recent, and its efficacy and safety still are not clear.
Methods:
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature for LLRL was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines on November 5, 2022. Databases, including PUBMED, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase were queried. A meta-analysis of random effects was conducted. Inclusion criteria included Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) or observational studies where LLRL therapy was used in children (3‒15 years old) with myopia. Exclusion criteria were studies with other ocular abnormalities. Efficacy was evaluated through the mean change in Axial Length (AL) and cycloplegic Spherical Equivalent Error (SER), while safety was evaluated by monitoring adverse effects.
Results:
A total of 5 final studies were included (4 RCTs, and 1 observational), in which 685 total patients were analyzed. The mean age was 9.7 ± 0.66 years, with 48,2% female patients. The number of eyes in the LRLL arm is 714 and, in the control, arm is 656. LLRL showed better results in SER and AL mean change (OR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.83; p < 0.00001, and MD -0.33; 95% CI -0.52 to -0.13; p = 0.001, respectively), in comparison to the control group. There was no significant difference in adverse effects between groups (MD = 5.76; 95% CI 0.66 to 50.14; p = 0.11).
Conclusion:
LLRL therapy is a non-invasive, effective, and safe short-term treatment option; however, long-term evaluation, particularly in comparison to other therapies, requires additional investigation.
