Can LIGHT prevent kids from needing glasses? What risk factors can parents help their children avoid?

In this episode, Jason Rountree, DC, CMLSO, explores new research on this exciting topic!

Links to the studies referenced in this episode are below.

Studies:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10086781/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10086781/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37890098/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23383553/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24674576/

Main source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38378527/

Here is some general information:

What is myopia?

Nearsightedness is a common vision condition in which close objects look clear but far objects look blurry. It progresses through childhood and this is why many kids 8-14 end up needing glasses.

Why does it happen?

“Myopia is most frequently characterized by an increase in the axial length of the eyeball” and can be brought on by both environmental [9] and hereditary causes.

Oxidative stress and inflammation may be responsible for the altered regulatory pathways in myopia.

The primary characteristic of high myopia-related irreversible vision loss is choroidal thinning. The choroid is the vascular middle layer of the wall of the eye.

Living in the city and individuals with higher levels of education is a consequence of intensive visual near work, especially in reading, writing, and visual work at the computer. This dependence may be associated with changes in the shape of the cornea or accommodation.

The factors predicting faster myopic progression were parents' myopia and less time spent on sports and outdoor activities at childhood. Time spent on reading and close work in childhood was related to myopic progression during the first 3 years but did not predict adulthood myopia. Myopia throughout follow-up was higher among those who watched television <3 hr daily than those who spent more time watching television.

Several techniques have already been proven to be efficient preventative elements for the growth of myopia in children. Increased exposure to bright light outdoors [3, 17] is used with myopia. Increased time outdoors has been shown to prevent or delay myopia onset in several studies. Furthermore, increased outdoor time has been shown to have a protective effect.

Does red light therapy prevent it?

This analysis found 152 studies and selected the top 5 for their review. Repeated low-level red-light intervention was needed twice daily, 3 minutes per session, five days per week -- Safe levels of light were given, not just any laser.

***DO NOT START SHINING LASERS OR ANY BRIGHT LIGHTS INTO YOUR EYES OR YOUR KIDS EYES***

Red light prevented axial lengthening and improved choroid thickness.

Our results showed that RLRL can better control axial length (AL) elongation, spherical equivalence refraction (SER), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) better than single vision spectacles (SVS) within 3, 6, 12 months when compared to wearing single-vision glasses.

It has slowed down and reversed the myopia progression in a large proportion of children. RLRL therapy is an effective new alternative treatment for myopia control with good user acceptability and no documented functional or structural damage. However, the effect of long-term RLRL treatment and the rebound effect after cessation requires further investigation.

***DO NOT START SHINING LASERS OR ANY BRIGHT LIGHTS INTO YOUR EYES OR YOUR KIDS EYES***

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