Safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia: a systematic review

Yanping Chen, Ruilin Xiong, Shaopeng Yang, Ziyu Zhu, Huangdong Li, Kaidi Xiang, Nathan Congdon*, Wei Wang*, Mingguang He*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose
Establishing the safety profile of repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy is necessary prior to its widespread clinical implementation.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, CRD42024516676) of articles across seven databases from inception through February 10, 2024, with keywords related to myopia and RLRL therapy. Pooled safety outcomes and risk-to-benefit ratios were reported, and incidence of side effects was compared with other antimyopia interventions.
Results
Among 689 screened articles, 20 studies (2.90%; median duration 9 months, longest 24 months) were analysed, encompassing 2,380 participants aged 3 to 18 years and 1,436 individuals undergoing RLRL therapy. Two case reports described an identical patient with reversible decline in visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) abnormalities, completely resolved 4 months after treatment cessation. No cases of permanent vision loss were reported. Temporary afterimage was the most common ocular symptom following treatment, resolving within 6 minutes in reported studies. The number needed to harm outweighed the number needed to treat by a ratio of 12.7 to 21.4 for a person with –3D to –8D myopia treated with RLRL therapy. Incidence of side effects from RLRL was 0.088 per 100 patient-years (95% confidence interval, 0.02–0.50).
Conclusions
No irreversible visual function loss or ocular structural damage was identified with RLRL. Fundus photography and OCT before and during therapy, alongside home monitoring of visual acuity and duration of afterimages, are necessary to identify side effects. Further adequately powered studies of longer duration are needed to evaluate long-term safety of RLRL.
Original languageEnglish
Article number100124
JournalAsia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume13
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Low-Level Light Therapy - methods - adverse effects
  • Myopia
  • Myopia prevention
  • Refraction, Ocular - physiology
  • Refractive error
  • Repeated low-level red-light
  • Risk-to-benefit
  • Safety
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia: a systematic review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this