Illuminating eye care: the promise and future of red light therapy in ophthalmology

With the rapid global rise of myopia, glaucoma, AMD, and dry eye disease, red light therapy (RLT) is quickly emerging as a non-invasive, breakthrough approach with extraordinary potential to transform eye health management. Originally applied for wound healing and pain relief, RLT has shown remarkable, multi-faceted effects in ophthalmology: slowing myopia progression, protecting retinal cells in glaucoma, reducing inflammation in AMD, and relieving symptoms of dry eye disease. However, alongside the surge in research interest, questions regarding optimal dosing, safety, and standardization remain pressing. This review summarizes the latest advances of RLT in eye health, explores its mechanisms of action, analyzes safety concerns in clinical applications, and discusses its synergistic potential with existing treatment methods as well as the integration of RLT with artificial intelligence and wearable technologies. In the future, RLT is expected to play a significant role in the management of chronic ocular diseases, but its long-term effects and safety need careful evaluation, with challenges also remaining in regulatory policies and clinical standardization.