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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Clinical Medicine

Effects of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Children with Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  • Yu-Yen Chen1,2,3,4,5
  • Hsin-Chien Yen2,6
  • Kuo-Hua Juan1
  • Li-Ju Lin1
  • Yun-Ju Lai3,7
  • Yung-Feng Yen8,9,10
  • Pesus Chou10
10 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
  2. 2Doctoral Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
  3. 3School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
  4. 4Program of Biomedical Informatics and Data Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
  5. 5School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
  6. 6Children’s Medical Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
  7. 7Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Puli Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Nantou 545, Taiwan
  8. 8Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
  9. 9Section of Infectious Diseases, Taipei City Hospital, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei 100, Taiwan
  10. 10Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy has recently emerged as a promising treatment for childhood myopia. Choroidal thickening has been proposed as a key biological mechanism underlying its therapeutic efficacy; however, evidence regarding its effects on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), particularly in children with premyopia, remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of RLRL therapy on SFCT in pediatric patients with myopia and premyopia. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched from database inception through 29 September 2026. Randomized controlled trials comparing RLRL therapy with controls in participants younger than 18 years were included. The primary outcome was the change in SFCT at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects models. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted according to refractive status. Results: Thirteen randomized controlled trials comprising 1974 children were included. In children with myopia, RLRL therapy was associated with significantly greater increases in SFCT than the control across all follow-up time points, with the greatest mean difference observed at 9 months (MD = 37.01 μm, 95% CI, 30.48–43.54). In children with premyopia, RLRL therapy also induced significant SFCT thickening from 1 to 9 months. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, and no evidence of significant publication bias was identified. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate consistent choroidal thickening following RLRL therapy in children with myopia and premyopia and support further investigation into the potential role of choroidal changes in myopia control.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{chen2026effects,
  title = {{Effects of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Children with Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis}},
  author = {Yu-Yen Chen and Hsin-Chien Yen and Kuo-Hua Juan and Li-Ju Lin and Yun-Ju Lai and Yung-Feng Yen and Pesus Chou},
  journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/jcm15207862},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/7862},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Effects of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Children with Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
AU  - Yu-Yen Chen
AU  - Hsin-Chien Yen
AU  - Kuo-Hua Juan
AU  - Li-Ju Lin
AU  - Yun-Ju Lai
AU  - Yung-Feng Yen
AU  - Pesus Chou
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO  - 10.3390/jcm15207862
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/7862
AB  - Background/Objectives: Repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy has recently emerged as a promising treatment for childhood myopia. Choroidal thickening has been proposed as a key biological mechanism underlying its therapeutic efficacy; however, evidence regarding its effects on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), particularly in children with premyopia, remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of RLRL therapy on SFCT in pediatric patients with myopia and premyopia. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched from database inception through 29 September 2026. Randomized controlled trials comparing RLRL therapy with controls in participants younger than 18 years were included. The primary outcome was the change in SFCT at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects models. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted according to refractive status. Results: Thirteen randomized controlled trials comprising 1974 children were included. In children with myopia, RLRL therapy was associated with significantly greater increases in SFCT than the control across all follow-up time points, with the greatest mean difference observed at 9 months (MD = 37.01 μm, 95% CI, 30.48–43.54). In children with premyopia, RLRL therapy also induced significant SFCT thickening from 1 to 9 months. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, and no evidence of significant publication bias was identified. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate consistent choroidal thickening following RLRL therapy in children with myopia and premyopia and support further investigation into the potential role of choroidal changes in myopia control.
SN  - 2077-0383
ER  -