Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37318667›Full record

Trial reportInternational ophthalmology2023

Six-month repeated irradiation of 650 nm low-level red light reduces the risk of myopia in children: a randomized controlled trial.

Lei Tian, Kai Cao, Dong-Li Ma, Li-Xin Lu, Shi-Qiang Zhao, Ao Li, Chang-Xi Chen, Zhang-Fang Ma, Zi-Bing Jin, Chun-Rong Ma and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in International ophthalmology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Factors predicting myopia incidence in China and Europe.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025
    Article
  9. IMI-Interventions for Controlling Myopia Onset and Progression 2025.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2025
    Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Cross-population validation of the PreMO risk indicator for predicting myopia onset in children.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Red light instruments for myopia exceed safety limits.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2024
    Article
  18. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Lei Tian *Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 17, Hougou Alley, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
Kai Cao *Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 17, Hougou Alley, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
Dong-Li MaBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Li-Xin LuBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Shi-Qiang ZhaoBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Ao LiBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Chang-Xi ChenBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 17, Hougou Alley, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
Zhang-Fang MaBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Zi-Bing JinBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 17, Hougou Alley, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
Chun-Rong MaBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Ying JieBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 17, Hougou Alley, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China. jie_yingcn@aliyun.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate whether the six-month repeated irradiation of 650 nm low-level red light (LLRL) decreases the risk of myopia onset in children.

methodsThis was a single-masked, randomized controlled trial. A total of 112 children (aged 6-12 years) were enrolled and randomized to the treatment group or control group in a 1:1 ratio. The cycloplegic spherical equivalent error (SER) of children at baseline was -0.5 diopter (D) to 3D. Children in the treatment group were irradiated with the 650 nm LLRL for 6 min daily. No intervention was given to the control. The primary outcomes are myopia incidence, change in cycloplegic SER, and change in axial length (AL).

resultsFor the treatment group and control group, the six-month myopia incidence rates were 1.8% (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.2-4.9%) and 12.5% (95% CI: 5.5-21.9%), respectively. The difference was significant (p = 0.028). The median changes in AL for the treatment group and control group were -0.02 (interquartile range, IQR: -0.12 to 0.06) mm, and 0.09 (IQR: 0-0.18) mm, respectively. The difference was significant (p < 0.001). The median changes in cycloplegic SER for the treatment group and control group were 0 (IQR: 0-0.25) D, and -0.125 (IQR: -0.375 to 0) D, respectively. The difference was significant (p < 0.001). There was no adverse event.

conclusionThe repeated irradiation of 650 nm LLRL may have a strong effect for myopia prevention in children, without risk of adverse events.

trial registrationthis trial is retrospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/ ), the registration number is ChiCTR2200058963.

Indexed as

MydriaticsMyopiaChildDisease ProgressionHumansIncidenceLightRefraction, OcularMydriaticsChildrenMyopiaPreventionRandomized controlled trialRed light

Identifiers

PMID37318667

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.