Three-year Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Low-level Red-light Therapy and Orthokeratology for Myopia Control in Children
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology; The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University)
- 2Shenzhen Longgang Otolaryngology Hospital
- 3School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Abstract
Introduction Repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) has emerged as a noninvasive intervention for myopia control in children. This study compared the 3-year efficacy and safety of RLRL and orthokeratology (OK). Methods This retrospective study included 86 children treated with RLRL (n = 40) or OK (n = 46). The RLRL group received two red-light treatment sessions daily and wore single-vision spectacles (SVS), whereas the OK group wore orthokeratology lenses overnight. Axial length (AL) and safety outcomes were assessed over 3 years. The measured baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. Results At 3 years, during active treatment, the mean change in AL from baseline was 0.00 ± 0.28 mm in the RLRL group and 0.45 ± 0.20 mm in the OK group (P < 0.001). Axial shortening, defined as an AL reduction of ≥ 0.05 mm from baseline, was more frequent in the RLRL group than in the OK group (40.00% vs. 2.17%). Complete myopia control, defined as axial elongation of < 0.10 mm/year, was also more frequent in the RLRL group at 3 years (82.5% vs. 37.0%). No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported in either group. One participant in the RLRL group showed reversible retinal hyperreflectivity on optical coherence tomography, without associated visual acuity loss or interruption of treatment. Conclusion During active treatment, RLRL was associated with less axial elongation than OK over 3 years in this cohort. Both treatments showed acceptable safety profiles. Whether the observed between-group differences persist after treatment cessation remains unknown.
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BibTeX
@article{nie2026threeyear,
title = {{Three-year Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Low-level Red-light Therapy and Orthokeratology for Myopia Control in Children}},
author = {Aiqin Nie and Jing Xie and Yingshi Zou and Ming-Ming Yang and Yanxian Chen and Mingguang He},
journal = {Ophthalmology and Therapy},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1007/s40123-026-01494-y},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-026-01494-y},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Three-year Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Low-level Red-light Therapy and Orthokeratology for Myopia Control in Children
AU - Aiqin Nie
AU - Jing Xie
AU - Yingshi Zou
AU - Ming-Ming Yang
AU - Yanxian Chen
AU - Mingguang He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Ophthalmology and Therapy
DO - 10.1007/s40123-026-01494-y
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-026-01494-y
AB - Introduction Repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) has emerged as a noninvasive intervention for myopia control in children. This study compared the 3-year efficacy and safety of RLRL and orthokeratology (OK). Methods This retrospective study included 86 children treated with RLRL (n = 40) or OK (n = 46). The RLRL group received two red-light treatment sessions daily and wore single-vision spectacles (SVS), whereas the OK group wore orthokeratology lenses overnight. Axial length (AL) and safety outcomes were assessed over 3 years. The measured baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. Results At 3 years, during active treatment, the mean change in AL from baseline was 0.00 ± 0.28 mm in the RLRL group and 0.45 ± 0.20 mm in the OK group (P < 0.001). Axial shortening, defined as an AL reduction of ≥ 0.05 mm from baseline, was more frequent in the RLRL group than in the OK group (40.00% vs. 2.17%). Complete myopia control, defined as axial elongation of < 0.10 mm/year, was also more frequent in the RLRL group at 3 years (82.5% vs. 37.0%). No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported in either group. One participant in the RLRL group showed reversible retinal hyperreflectivity on optical coherence tomography, without associated visual acuity loss or interruption of treatment. Conclusion During active treatment, RLRL was associated with less axial elongation than OK over 3 years in this cohort. Both treatments showed acceptable safety profiles. Whether the observed between-group differences persist after treatment cessation remains unknown.
SN - 2193-8245
SN - 2193-6528
ER -