Three Australian institutions have been part of a study evaluating clinically significant axial length shortening among children with myopia following repeated low-level red light therapy.
More than a quarter of children had axial length shortening greater than 0.05 mm following repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy, and the overall mean axial length change was -0.142 mm per year.
Researchers in the retrospective multicentre analysis involving the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, and University of Melbourne reviewed clinical data collected for myopic children aged 3-17 years who received RLRL therapy delivered by home-use desktop light device that emitted light at 650 nm for at least one year.
The clinical data included axial length, spherical equivalent refraction, and visual acuity measured at baseline and follow-up.
According to the abstract published in Ophthalmology and therapy, the primary outcomes were frequency of axial length shortening of greater than 0.05 mm, 0.10 mm, and 0.20 mm per year, and associated factors of axial length shortening per year.
A total of 434 myopic children with at least 12 months of follow-up data were included in the study.
The mean age of participants was 9.7 (2.6) years with spherical equivalent refraction of -3.74 (2.60) diopters.
There were 115 (26.50%), 76 (17.51%), and 20 (4.61%) children with axial length shortening based on cut-offs of 0.05 mm, 0.10 mm, and 0.20 mm per year, respectively.
In the multivariable model, axial length shortening was significantly associated with older baseline age, female gender, and longer baseline axial length or greater spherical equivalent refraction.
Among axial length shortened eyes, the mean axial length difference (standard deviation) was -0.142 (0.094) mm per year. Greater axial length shortening was observed among children who were younger and had longer baseline axial length.
More reading
Axial length matters in myopia management
Myopia management: Customising protocols for optimal outcomes
Myopia Progression in Children Conference by Dr Loren Rose returning mid-2023
