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Published on: April 1, 2019
Early changes in ocular biometry predict long-term treatment outcomes following repeated low-level red-light therapy
Kun Zhou1, Xiaohuan Ma1, Di Shen1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an No.1 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China; Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Northwestern University, Xi'an 710002, Shaanxi Province, China.
Purpose:
Repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy has emerged as a promising intervention for pediatric myopia control. However, substantial inter-individual variability in treatment response limits its clinical applicability. Reliable tools for early identification of long-term responders remain limited. This study aimed to develop a prognostic model based on early axial length (AL) dynamics to predict long-term myopia control outcomes in children undergoing RLRL therapy.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study included myopic children treated with RLRL therapy at Xi'an No.1 Hospital between August 2022 and December 2025. Participants were classified into good- and poor-prognosis groups based on yearly AL change (≤ -0.06 vs. > -0.06 mm/year). Demographic characteristics, baseline spherical equivalent (SE), subfoveal choroidal thickness (sChT), and ocular biometric parameters at baseline and at 1 and 3 months post-treatment were collected. Univariable logistic regression was used to screen potential predictors, and nomograms were constructed for prognostic modeling.
Results:
A total of 69 children were enrolled (35 good-prognosis, 34 poor-prognosis). Significant differences were observed in baseline SE, AL, 1-month AL change, 3-month AL change, and the AL change rate over the first 3 months (all P < 0.05). The nomogram incorporating age, sex, and 3-month AL change showed the highest predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.961. No serious adverse events were observed during follow-up.
Conclusions:
RLRL therapy is effective and safe for controlling myopia progression in children. Early AL dynamics, combined with baseline ocular parameters, provide strong predictive power for long-term outcomes, supporting individualized myopia management and risk-stratified clinical decision-making.
