Another recent breakthrough of red light in eye care is its application in myopia control. Myopia (nearsightedness) has become a global epidemic among children and teens. Conventional interventions like functional glasses, contact lenses, or medicated eye drops (atropine) have been used to slow the worsening of myopia. Now, repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy is emerging as a novel addition to this toolkit. The concept actually arose from earlier amblyopia treatments: years ago ophthomologists  in China noticed  that when amblyopic chilidren were treated with red light, AL shortening has been observed in children with myopia 5 .

This prompted researchers to formally study red light for controlling myopia progression. In the past decade, multiple studies – especially in China where myopia rates are extremly high – have used devices that deliver gentle red light into children’ eyes for twice a day, 3 mins per session, with  at least 4 hours' interval. 

Children simply sit in front of it with their eyes open (wearing their normal glasses) while it delivers therapy. Large clinical trials have reported encouraging results. In a 12-month randomized trial of 264 children, those who received a brief dose of red light twice daily had significantly less elongation of the eyeball (about 0.26 mm less growth on average) compared to a control group – essentially slowing myopia progression by over 50% 19 20 . Remarkably, a subset of the treated children even showed a slight shortening of axial length (a reversal of eye elongation) during the therapy period 19 21 . This is notable because it’s the first time any intervention has been shown to potentially reverse the physical growth of the eye in myopia 4 .

Other studies have found that red light therapy also transiently thickens the choroid (a layer of the eye involved in eye growth signals) and may reduce biochemical signals that drive elongation 22 23 . Thanks to these findings, red light therapy for myopia has gained traction in East Asia and is starting to spread globally. Pediatric eye clinics in China, Singapore, and elsewhere have begun offering RLRL therapy as part of myopia control programs (typically along with outdoor time and other treatments). The Eyerising  device has been approved for use in countries like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and across the EU , reflecting a growing international interest. Importantly, studies so far report no serious side effects – the red light used is very low-intensity, so it does not damage the retina. Still, experts caution that long-term effects need further study, and that therapy must be applied under professional guidance. Red light is now being discussed alongside more established myopia interventions, and ongoing trials are investigating how it compares or combines with treatments like low-dose atropine drops. If future research continues to support its safety and efficacy, we may see red light therapy become a routine, at-home therapy to help keep kids’ vision in focus