Light Therapy May Help Kids With Eye Problems

Researchers have been studying a new way to treat eye problems in children using beams of light. The treatment is called photobiomodulation therapy, or PBMT for short. It uses specific wavelengths of light to help cells in the eye work better. Scientists looked at 45 published studies on how this therapy has been used for kids from newborns to age 18. Their findings suggest the treatment could be helpful and appears to be mostly safe.

The biggest area where PBMT showed promise was in treating myopia, which is the medical word for nearsightedness. Nearsightedness means a person can see things clearly up close but has trouble seeing things far away. Many of the studies found that the light therapy slowed down how fast children's eyes were getting worse. Some studies did notice that eyes started changing again after the treatment stopped, so doctors say more research is needed. Still, the results gave scientists reason to be hopeful about using this method more widely.

Doctors also looked at how PBMT might help with other eye conditions in children. These included amblyopia, which many people call 'lazy eye,' as well as a condition in premature babies called retinopathy of prematurity. The therapy was also tested for problems with eyelid glands, small bumps on the eyelid called chalazions, eye tiredness, and even vision problems caused by concussions. While these areas were studied less than myopia, early results were encouraging. Researchers say they need to keep testing to know for sure how well the treatment works for each condition.

Most of the studies in the review were randomized controlled trials, which are considered a very reliable way to test medical treatments. In this type of study, some patients get the real treatment while others do not, and then doctors compare the results. The majority of these studies were done in China, which means scientists from other parts of the world should also run their own tests. Having more studies from different countries would help doctors feel more confident about the therapy. It would also help them figure out the best way to use the light treatment for each condition.

One reason doctors are excited about PBMT is that it appears to be very safe for children. Side effects that were reported were mild and did not last long. A few children experienced some sensitivity to light, which is called photophobia, or slightly dry eyes after treatment. No serious harm was reported across the studies that were reviewed. This is important because doctors always want to make sure any treatment given to children is as safe as possible.

Researchers say the next step is to figure out exactly how to use PBMT in the best way. They need to answer questions like how much light should be used, how often treatments should happen, and how long they should last. They also want to know if the benefits of the treatment last a long time or fade after it stops. Once scientists answer these questions, PBMT could become a common tool that eye doctors use to help kids see better. For now, the research is a promising start toward new and gentler ways to care for children's eyes.