Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Red Light Childhood Myopia Proof-of-concept

This study aims to discover if shining a safe red LED light into a child's eyes can help slow down how quickly their short-sightedness gets worse. Short-sightedness is becoming more common and severe, sometimes leading to serious eye problems later in life. Researchers believe red light might improve blood flow to the back of the eye, which could be helpful for growing eyes. They will test different brightness levels of the red light on 24 children aged 5-12, who will use it for three minutes, twice a day, over three months. The team will measure changes in eye length to see which brightness works best. This early stage study will help plan bigger studies in the future.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University College, London

Enrolment target

Start

01 Feb 2025

Estimated completion

01 Feb 2026

Myopia

What is this study about?

Short-sightedness, also known as myopia, means that distant objects look blurry. It's becoming a bigger problem, affecting more children at a younger age, and often getting worse quicker than it used to. For many, severe short-sightedness can unfortunately lead to serious eye conditions and even vision loss in adulthood. This is why finding ways to slow its progression is so important.

This research project is designed to explore a new idea: whether a special, safe red LED light can help. The team has already found that shining this red light on grown-up eyes improves blood flow to the choroid, which is a layer at the back of the eye. While this didn't affect short-sightedness in adults because their eyes have finished growing, it might be different for children whose eyes are still developing. Improved blood flow could potentially help slow down the changes that make short-sightedness worse.

To find out, researchers will involve 24 children, aged between 5 and 12 years old. These children will use the red light device for just three minutes, twice a day, every day for three months. To see what works best, there will be four groups, with each group using a different brightness level of the red light. The team will carefully measure the length of each child's eye at the beginning, after one month, and again after three months. Comparing these measurements between the groups will help them understand if the red light works and, if so, what brightness is most effective. The information gained from this first study will then be used to plan a larger study with more children, which would be an exciting next step in finding new ways to manage short-sightedness.

Key takeaways

Red light therapy is being explored to slow worsening short-sightedness in children.
The red LED light is considered safe and aims to improve blood flow in the eye.
This initial study will test different light brightness levels on 24 children aged 5-12.
Children will use the light device for 3 minutes, twice daily, for three months.
Eye measurements will track changes to see if the treatment works and at what brightness.
Results will help plan future, larger studies for long-term impact.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, children need to be aged between 5 and 12 years old. They must have short-sightedness in both eyes, with their prescription falling between -1.00 and -6.00. Their vision, when wearing their best-corrected glasses or contact lenses, also needs to be very good.

However, there are some reasons why a child might not be able to join. For example, if their short-sightedness is caused by another health condition or syndrome, or if they have previously had other treatments specifically designed to change their short-sightedness, they wouldn't be suitable. Also, children with unusual eye shapes or those who have had eye surgery would not be able to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is your child aged between 5 and 12 years old?
Does your child have short-sightedness in both eyes, with a prescription between -1.00 and -6.00?
Does your child have very good vision when wearing their glasses or contact lenses?
Is your child's short-sightedness NOT due to another health condition or syndrome?
Has your child NOT had any previous treatments specifically aimed at changing their short-sightedness?
Has your child NOT had any eye surgery or unusual eye shapes?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If your child takes part, they will use a red LED light device at home for three minutes, twice a day, every day for three months. There will be four different groups, and each group will use a different brightness level of the light. Your child will need to have eye measurements taken at the start of the study, and then again after one month and three months to track any changes in their eye length and the thickness of a layer at the back of their eye. The total duration of active participation for this initial part of the study is three months.

Potential risks and benefits

The main benefit of taking part is that your child could potentially be among the first to receive a new treatment that might help slow down the worsening of their short-sightedness. This could be a very positive step for their long-term eye health. The red LED light used in this study has been shown to be safe. Researchers have already tested it on adults without any problems. As with any study, you are free to withdraw your child at any time, for any reason, without it affecting their ongoing medical care. We will discuss any potential risks or discomforts thoroughly with you before you decide to take part.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University College London
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is short-sightedness and why is it a problem?

Short-sightedness (myopia) means you can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. It's a growing concern because it can start young, get worse quickly, and sometimes lead to serious eye problems later in life.

How does the red light treatment work?

The red light is thought to improve blood circulation to a part of the eye called the choroid. For children whose eyes are still growing, better blood flow might help slow down the progression of short-sightedness.

Is the red light safe to use?

Yes, research carried out by the team on adults has shown that this red LED light is safe and gently improves blood flow in the eye without any harmful effects.

How long will my child need to use the device?

For this particular study, your child will use the device for three minutes, twice a day, every day for three months. If the treatment is found to be effective, in the future, children might need to use it for several years.

What will happen after the three months?

This is a first step, a 'proof-of-concept' study. The results will help researchers design a bigger, longer study with more children to further investigate and confirm the benefits of this treatment.

How to find out more

Annegret Dahlmann-Noor, PhD

anngret.dahlmann@ucl.ac.uk 020 7253 3411 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.