Abstract
To describe, in the absence of a control group, sex-specific trajectories of ocular parameters during low-intensity red light exposure in myopic adolescents in Liaoning, China. Given the uncontrolled design, this study was exploratory and hypothesis generating. This prospective, non-randomized, uncontrolled cohort enrolled 180 myopic adolescents (90 males, 90 females). All participants used a 650 nm low-intensity red light device twice daily. Ophthalmic examinations were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Repeated-measures analysis of variance assessed time effects, sex effects, and time × sex interactions. At baseline, males had longer axial length (24.35 ± 0.94 vs. 24.02 ± 0.79 mm; P = 0.014) and more myopic spherical equivalent (− 2.25 ± 1.46 vs. −1.70 ± 1.43 D; P = 0.011) than females, while baseline UDVA and intraocular pressure did not differ significantly (both P > 0.05). Over 12 months, axial length increased in both sexes (time effect P < 0.001) and spherical equivalent became less negative (time effect P < 0.001), but time × sex interactions were not significant for axial length or spherical equivalent (both P > 0.05). The between-sex difference in annual axial elongation was 0.01 mm (95% CI − 0.023 to 0.066). UDVA (decimal) increased over time (P < 0.01) with a small time × sex interaction (P < 0.05): females showed earlier increases (significant at 1 month), whereas males showed later increases (significant at 3 months). This uncontrolled, nonrandomized exploratory cohort describes 12-month trajectories of ocular parameters observed in adolescents undergoing low-intensity red light exposure. Without a comparator group, these observations cannot be attributed to the exposure and should be interpreted as descriptive and hypothesis generating.
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Data availability
Data will be made available on request.The de-identified datasets generated and analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author (Wang Junying) upon reasonable request. Data include anonymized participant baseline characteristics, ocular biometric measurements, and follow-up outcomes. Requests will be reviewed for compliance with ethical and privacy regulations.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Dalian University Affiliated Xinhua Hospital for providing the research platform and clinical support.
Funding
This study was supported by China Medicine Education Association Project (CMEA, No. 2024KTM031).
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Wang Junying conceived the study and acquired funding.Xiaofeng Li and Kexuan Ren designed the study and revised the manuscript.Kexuan Ren performed the statistical analyses.Yang Liu assisted with device implementation, participant data organization, and supervision of treatment procedures.All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
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This study was prospectively registered and approved in the National Medical Research Registration and Filing Information System of China (Registration-Filing No.: MR-21-26-010860). The registration record has been synchronized to the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) and is currently under review by the ChiCTR. The study protocol adhered to the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Ren, K., Liu, Y., Li, X. et al. Sex specific ocular parameter trajectories during low intensity red light exposure in myopic adolescents in Liaoning China. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39824-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39824-6
