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Home > Myopia > Repeated low-level red light shows greater 12-month efficacy than 1% atropine in myopia control trial

Repeated low-level red light shows greater 12-month efficacy than 1% atropine in myopia control trial

Ophthalmology 360

Key Takeaways

  1. Repeated low-level red light slowed myopia progression more than 1% atropine over 12 months.
  2. Axial length and refractive outcomes favored red light treatment during the treatment period.
  3. After treatment stopped, red light therapy showed slightly greater rebound in axial length.

Repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy slowed myopia progression more than 1% atropine over 12 months, but showed slightly greater rebound in axial length after treatment stopped.

The prospective, single-blinded study enrolled 136 myopic children aged 6-12 years who were randomly assigned to receive RLRL therapy or 1% atropine in a 1:1 ratio. Treatment continued for 12 months, followed by a 3-month washout period. Outcomes included changes in axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFChT), and safety.

A total of 116 children completed at least 1 follow-up visit, including 65 in the RLRL group and 51 in the HCA group.

At 12 months, AL regressed slightly in the RLRL group but increased in the HCA group (P = 0.005). SER decreased by 0.24 D with RLRL and increased by 0.035 D HCA (P = 0.008). SFChT increased by 26.0 μm in the RLRL group compared with 12.761 μm in the HCA group (P = 0.032).

During the 3-month washout period, AL elongation was greater in the RLRL group than in the HCA group (0.163 mm vs 0.115 mm; P = 0.014). Higher compliance with RLRL (≥75%) was associated with greater efficacy at 12 months (AL change −0.064 mm vs 0.084 mm; P = 0.011), but also greater rebound during washout (0.183 mm vs 0.122 mm; P = 0.02).

No severe adverse events were reported.

Reference
Xie J, Zhang Z, Zhang T, et al. Efficacy and Rebound Effects of Repeated Low-Level Red Light versus High-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Control in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 Mar 8. doi: 10.1111/ceo.70101. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41796439.

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