To evaluate the effects of repeated low-level red-light therapy on myopia progression specifically in pediatric patients.
Key Findings:
At 12 months, improvement of 0.68 diopters in spherical equivalent refraction, indicating significant treatment efficacy.
Reduction of 0.30 mm in axial length, suggesting structural benefits.
Increase of nearly 27 µm in choroidal thickness, supporting the therapy's positive impact.
Treatment effects increased over time, with greater benefits in patients with higher baseline myopia, highlighting the therapy's potential.
No severe treatment-related adverse events reported, ensuring safety.
Interpretation:
Repeated low-level red-light therapy may effectively slow myopia progression in children, with increasing benefits over time and stable short-term structural outcomes.
Limitations:
Most trials conducted in China, limiting generalizability to other populations.
Follow-up limited to 12 months, leaving long-term efficacy and safety unclear.
No direct comparison with other interventions like atropine or orthokeratology, which is crucial for context.
Conclusion:
Longer-term trials with comprehensive retinal safety assessments are essential to confirm findings and ensure patient safety.
In an observational US target trial emulation, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist initiation was associated with about 3 to 4 more ischemic optic neuropathy cases per 10,000 patients over 18 months than two comparator drug classes.
