Repeated Low-Level Red Light Eye Therapy: A Powerful New Childhood Myopia Treatment

Globally, myopia is on the rise. Approximately, 6.3 million Australians have myopia.¹ It is expected that 52% of the world’s population will be affected by myopia and high myopia by 2025.²

Myopia management, especially among children, is more important than ever. One of the most exciting recent developments in effective, evidence-based treatments is Repeated Low-Level Red Light Eye therapy, also known as RLRL. Red light eye therapy offers a safe, drug-free, and non-invasive myopia treatment for kids. It can slow or even reverse myopia progression.

Already in clinical use in Australia, red light eye therapy is changing how we manage myopia in both children and adults. Let’s explore how it works, why it’s effective, and who it’s suitable for.

Red Light Eye Therapy for Myopia

RLRL therapy uses low-intensity red light (at a 650 nm wavelength) delivered through a specially designed, home-use medical device. Treatment sessions last just three minutes per eye, performed twice daily, five days per week, with at least four hours between sessions. This therapy is painless, child-friendly, and designed to be administered at home under supervision.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Though the precise mechanism is still being studied, research has shown that red light therapy for eyesight increases blood flow and oxygenation in the eye, particularly in the choroid, a vascular layer beneath the retina. This process helps reduce scleral hypoxia (a deficiency of oxygen supply to the sclera, the white outer layer of the eye), a major contributor to the elongation of the eye in myopic patients.

In many patients, treatment also causes choroidal thickening, which is thought to contribute to the observed reduction in axial elongation. Notably, RLRL is the first therapy shown to achieve not just a slowing of axial growth, but also axial length shortening, which no other therapy has demonstrated at this scale.

Is it Effective? Let’s Look at the Clinical Evidence

In a large multicenter randomised trial of 264 children, red light eye therapy slowed axial elongation by 69.4% and myopia progression by 76.6% over 12 months compared to children wearing single-vision glasses.³ Even more remarkably, 21.9% of children had axial shortening, a breakthrough outcome in myopia care.

In patients with high myopia (≥ –6.00D), results are even more promising. A 2024 trial with 192 high myopic children reported that 53.3% had axial shortening after one year of RLRL therapy.⁴ Another study showed axial shortening in 59% of highly myopic children at 12 months, with an average axial length reduction of –0.11 mm.⁵

When directly compared to low-dose atropine (0.01%), red light therapy was significantly more effective at reducing axial growth and refractive error progression, while also increasing choroidal thickness and ocular blood flow.⁸

Is Red Light Eye Therapy Safe?

Safety is a top concern when undergoing eye treatment, especially in children. Red light therapy has an excellent safety profile. Over 2,000 children have been studied across more than 20 clinical trials, with no serious side effects reported.⁶

Even after five or more years of continuous use in some cases, no structural or functional retinal damage has been observed. Common temporary side effects like mild afterimages typically resolve quickly. Independent reviews of clinical imaging (e.g., OCT scans) confirm the absence of any harm to the retina or optic nerve.

The Eyerising device used in red light myopia therapy is approved by Australia’s TGA, Europe’s CE, and New Zealand’s MedSafe agencies. It also meets Class 1 international laser safety standards under the IEC 60825-1:2014 (Class 1) guidelines.

How Long Has Red Light Therapy Been Used?

Although new in Australia, red light therapy has been used in China for close to a decade. It was initially used for amblyopia (lazy eye).

The first major clinical trial for RLRL being used for myopia was published in 2021.⁷ Since then, multiple studies across Chinese, Australian, and international populations have validated that it is safe and effective. Some children have now been using this therapy for up to eight years. It is becoming a viable option as a safe myopia treatment for kids.

Who Can Benefit from Red Light Therapy for Myopia?

Why Choose Vision Camberwell Optometrists for Red Light Myopia Therapy?

At Vision Camberwell Optometrists, we offer a customised, evidence-based approach to Myopia treatment Melbourne-wide, ensuring each child receives a treatment plan based on their unique risk factors, genetics, lifestyle, and eye health history.

When you’re comparing different myopia treatment options, our expert Camberwell optometrists are here to help you make the best decision for your child’s long-term vision. We guide you through choosing between red light therapy for vision, Ortho-K, low-dose atropine, or custom myopia control lenses. We invite you to contact us and book a consultation with our team at Vision Camberwell Optometrists.

References:

1. https://www.cera.org.au/conditions/myopia-and-refractive-error/
2. The impact of myopia and high myopia: Report of the Joint World Health Organization – Brien Holden Vision Institute Global Scientific Meeting on Myopia. University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 16-18 March 2015. Accessible at www.childmyopia.com
3. Jiang, Y., Zhu, Z., Tan, X., et al. (2022). Effect of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in children: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Ophthalmology, 129(5), 509–519.
4. Xu, Y., Cui, L., Kong, M., et al. (2024). Repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in high myopia children and adolescents: A randomized clinical trial. Ophthalmology, 131(3), 318–327.
5. Wei, R., Zhang, Y., Li, J., et al. (2024). Axial shortening effects of repeated low-level red-light therapy in children with high myopia: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 248, 100–108.
6. Chen, Y., Xiong, R., He, M., et al. (2024). Safety of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia: A systematic review. Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, 13(1), 100124.
7. Jiang, Y., Zhu, Z., Tan, X., et al. (2022). Effect of repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in children: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Ophthalmology, 129(5), 509–519. DOI: 10.1016/j. ophtha.2021.
8. Chen, Y., Xiong, R., Chen, X., et al. (2022). Efficacy comparison of repeated low-level red light and low-dose atropine for myopia control: A randomized controlled trial. Translational Vision Science & Technology, 11(10), 33. PMID 36269184