Does repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy effectively and safely control myopia progression in children?
Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy, a randomized controlled trial in 264 children (Ophthalmology 2022, PMID 34863776) — among 246 children analyzed, the 12-month axial elongation was 0.13 mm for the RLRL group and 0.38 mm for the SVS group. Scope: 264 children, over 12 months, and the abstract states no limitations.
Source: Ophthalmology 2022, PMID 34863776 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: medium
Ophthalmology · 2022 · PMID 34863776 · DOI 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.11.023
Repeated low-level red-light therapy significantly slows myopia progression in children with no observed adverse effects.
The question
Does repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy effectively and safely control myopia progression in children?
What they tested
The study implicitly hypothesized that RLRL therapy would be more effective than single-vision spectacles (SVS) alone in controlling myopia progression in children, as measured by changes in axial length and spherical equivalent refraction (SER), without significant adverse events.
How they did it
This was a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, single-blind clinical trial involving 264 children aged 8 to 13 with myopia. Participants were randomized to either the intervention group (RLRL treatment plus SVS) or the control group (SVS only). RLRL therapy involved a desktop device emitting 650-nm red light for 3 minutes per session, twice daily, 5 days per week, administered at home. Primary outcomes were changes in axial length and SER measured over 12 months.
What they found
Among 246 children analyzed, the 12-month axial elongation was 0.13 mm for the RLRL group and 0.38 mm for the SVS group. SER progression was -0.20 D for the RLRL group and -0.79 D for the SVS group. The differences between groups were 0.26 mm in axial elongation and -0.59 D in SER progression, favoring the RLRL group. No severe adverse events, functional visual loss, or structural damage were observed.
| RLRL (Axial Elongation) | 0.13 | |
|---|---|---|
| SVS (Axial Elongation) | 0.38 | |
| RLRL (SER Progression) | -0.2 | |
| SVS (SER Progression) | -0.79 |
Comparison of 12-month axial elongation (mm) and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression (D) between repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy and single-vision spectacle (SVS) groups.
What it means
Repeated low-level red-light therapy is a promising alternative treatment for myopia control in children, demonstrating good user acceptability and no documented functional or structural damage.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Effect of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Myopia Control in Children: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial |
|---|---|
| Journal | Ophthalmology |
| Year | 2022 |
| PMID | 34863776 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.11.023 ↗ |
| Topic | Sleep, circadian rhythm & stress |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Photobiomodulation (Red & Near-Infrared Light)
The primary target of red and near-infrared light is cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain; stimulating it is associated with increased cellular energy (ATP) production and reduced inflammation.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy effectively and safely control myopia progression in children? [Plain-English summary of Ophthalmology 2022, PMID 34863776, DOI 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.11.023]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x15.html@misc{magellan_x15,
title = {Does repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy effectively and safely control myopia progression in children?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x15.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 34863776; DOI 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.11.023; Ophthalmology 2022. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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