Effects of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Children with Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy has recently emerged as a promising treatment for childhood myopia. Choroidal thickening has been proposed as a key biological mechanism underlying its therapeutic efficacy; however, evidence regarding its effects on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), particularly in children with premyopia, remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of RLRL therapy on SFCT in pediatric patients with myopia and premyopia.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched from database inception through 29 September 2026. Randomized controlled trials comparing RLRL therapy with controls in participants younger than 18 years were included. The primary outcome was the change in SFCT at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects models. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted according to refractive status.