Repeated Low-level Red Light (RLRL) Therapy

Repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) is a novel and promising intervention for myopia management. RLRL involves exposing the retina of a child or adolescent to a red light laser with a wavelength between 650 +/- 10 nanometers, twice daily for three minutes each time, with treatment separated by at least four hours in between and five to seven days per week. RLRL is available in several markets worldwide, but it is not FDA-approved or available in the United States.

The most widely accepted recommendation is at least 2 hours per day of outdoor time participating in any activity that engages the child’s distance vision. Furthermore, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that increasing a child’s outdoor time by an additional 76 minutes per day reduces their risk of incident myopia by 50%.

Although this finding is remarkable, many parents may argue that spending over 3 hours per day outdoors is a near impossible feat for their child. Some of the challenges with lengthy outdoor time include variations in climate, proper supervision, accessibility to adequate outdoor space, and seasonal allergies.

RLRL is an indoor therapy that could simulate outdoor time and potentially provide the same positive impact on myopia. RLRL therapy could change the course of myopia management and provide a much more convenient approach to the recommended amount of “outdoor” time.