Table 2 Efficacy outcomes observed in participants undergoing RLRL therapy compared to conventional myopia treatments.

From: Repeated low-level red-light therapy vs. conventional treatments for myopic control in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Study

Arm

Effectiveness

The regression of axial length (AL)

Sun 2024

RLRL

OK

AL Increase < 0.3 mm:

85% (12 m), 94% (24 m)

56% (12 m), 75% (24 m)

AL shortening ≥ 0.05 mm:

55% (1 m), 42% (12 m)

3% (1 m), 2% (12 m)

Xiong 2024

RLRL + OK

OK

AL Increase < 0.10 mm:

86.2% (12 m)

14.3% (12 m)

AL shortening ≥ 0.05 mm:

30.0% (1 m), 42.9% (3 m), 48.3% (6 m), 44.8% (12 m)

12.5% (1 m), 12.5% (3 m), 13.3% (6 m), 7.1% (12 m)

Chen 2022

RLRL

0.01% A

AL Increase ≥ 0.36 mm:

9.7% (12 m)

50.0% (12 m)

AL Increase < 0.10 mm:

53.2% (12 m)

9.7% (12 m)

AL shortening ≥ 0.05 mm:

42.6%(1 m), 50.0% (3 m), 31.7% (6 m), 20.6% (12 m)

7.4% (1 m), 10.0% (3 m), 5.2% (6 m), 3.6% (12 m)

Yu 2024

RLRL + OK

OK

-

-

AL shortening ≥ 0.05 mm: 63.6% (12 m);

AL shortening ≥ 0.10 mm:45.4% (12 m);

AL shortening ≥ 0.20 mm:20% (12 m);

AL shortening ≥ 0.30 mm:10.9% (12 m);

AL shortening ≥ 0.40 mm:5.4% (12 m)

-

Fu 2024

RLRL

0.01% A

-

AL shortening ≥ 0.05 mm:

62.22% (6 m)

9.52% (6 m)

Xiong 2021

LILT

OK

-

-

Li 2023

RLRL

OK

AL Increase < 0.10 mm:

90.0% (3 m)

93.3% (3 m)

AL shortening:

56.7% (3 m)

23.3% (3 m)

  1. AL, axial length; SER, spherical equivalent refraction; D, diopter; RLRL, repeated low-level red light; A, atropine; LILT = Low-Intensity Laser Therapy; OK, orthokeratology lenses; m, month.