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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 May 8:79:100375.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100375. eCollection 2024.

Low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dillan Cunha Amaral  1 , Sávio Batista  1 , Edson Dos Santos-Neto  2 , José Eduardo Ferreira Manso  1 , Márcio Penha Morterá Rodrigues  1 , Mário Luiz Ribeiro Monteiro  2 , Milton Ruiz Alves  2 , Ricardo Noguera Louzada  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dillan Cunha Amaral et al. Clinics (Sao Paulo). .

Abstract

Introduction: Low-Level Red-Light (LLRL) Therapy is a safe and natural way to promote healing and reduce inflammation in the body. When it comes to treating myopia in children, LLRL therapy is recent, and its efficacy and safety still are not clear.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature for LLRL was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines on November 5, 2022. Databases, including PUBMED, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase were queried. A meta-analysis of random effects was conducted. Inclusion criteria included Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) or observational studies where LLRL therapy was used in children (3‒15 years old) with myopia. Exclusion criteria were studies with other ocular abnormalities. Efficacy was evaluated through the mean change in Axial Length (AL) and cycloplegic Spherical Equivalent Error (SER), while safety was evaluated by monitoring adverse effects.

Results: A total of 5 final studies were included (4 RCTs, and 1 observational), in which 685 total patients were analyzed. The mean age was 9.7 ± 0.66 years, with 48,2% female patients. The number of eyes in the LRLL arm is 714 and, in the control, arm is 656. LLRL showed better results in SER and AL mean change (OR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.83; p < 0.00001, and MD -0.33; 95% CI -0.52 to -0.13; p = 0.001, respectively), in comparison to the control group. There was no significant difference in adverse effects between groups (MD = 5.76; 95% CI 0.66 to 50.14; p = 0.11).

Conclusion: LLRL therapy is a non-invasive, effective, and safe short-term treatment option; however, long-term evaluation, particularly in comparison to other therapies, requires additional investigation.

Keywords: Adverse effects; Axial length; Children; Cycloplegic spherical equivalent error; Low-level red-light therapy; Myopia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest All authors report no relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest. All authors take responsibility for all aspects of the reliability and freedom from bias of the data presented and their discussed interpretation.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram of study screening and selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Spherical equivalent error mean change forest plot.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Axial length mean change forest plot.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Adverse effects forest plot.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Funnel plot analysis. (A) Spherical equivalent error. (B) Axial length. (C) Adverse effects.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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