LED Low-Intensity Red Light for Myopia Control in Youth: Efficacy and Safety Study

Myopia is the most prevalent ocular condition among children and adolescents worldwide. In recent years, optical interventions for myopia prevention and control have gained increasing attention, with low-intensity red light (wavelength: 650 nm) emerging as a promising therapeutic approach. Clinical studies have preliminarily demonstrated the efficacy of repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy in slowing myopia progression in pediatric populations. Existing research has primarily utilized semiconductor laser diodes due to their high monochromaticity and concentrated beam intensity. However, concerns persist regarding the safety of red light irradiation in clinical myopia management. The primary risks include potential damage to intraocular structures from prolonged or high-intensity exposure, coupled with the high cost of laser-based systems, which limits their widespread adoption.

In contrast to laser sources, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operate via non-thermal mechanisms and deliver significantly lower energy output, mitigating the risk of thermal or photochemical tissue damage. Investigating the efficacy and safety of low-intensity red LED light for controlling myopia progression in children and adolescents is therefore of critical scientific and clinical importance.This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of repeated low-intensity, single-wavelength (650 nm) red LED light therapy in slowing axial elongation in children aged 8-12 years over a 3-month treatment period. Participants will receive RLRL therapy at home under parental supervision in addition to wearing single-vision spectacles, following a standardized protocol. Key outcome measures, including axial length (AL), visual acuity, cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER), intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and optical biometry, will be assessed at baseline and at 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month follow-up intervals.

Inclusion criteria

• Age: 8-12 years old
• Simple myopia: equivalent spherical lens ≤ -0.5D and > -6.0D after any cycloplegia, astigmatism ≤ 2.5D, anisometropia ≤ 1.5D
• The best corrected visual acuity in one eye is 0.8 and above
• Normal fundus, or only leopard-shaped fundus
• Sign informed consent and be able to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Rule out hereditary myopia
• The subject has other congenital eye diseases, such as congenital cataract, congenital glaucoma, etc
• Presence of strabismus or other binocular vision abnormalities
• refractive media opacity: corneal opacity, cataract or intraocular lens surgery
• There are eye diseases that affect retinal function
• Children who had used or were using orthokeratology, atropine and other myopia control measures could be enrolled after stopping treatment for three months
• There are other systemic disease abnormalities
• Other reasons that the research doctor considers unsuitable for inclusion in the project