Bosight Medical's Red Light Therapy Sparks Debate; AO-SLO Technology Emerges as Key to Safety Evaluation

Article source: Qingbai Perspective

-01-

Severe Myopia Problem Sparks Heated Debate on Red Light Therapy.

Myopia has become a global public health issue, with the prevalence of myopia among Chinese children and adolescents ranking first in the world. Among numerous prevention and control strategies,AboutRepeated Low-Intensity Red Light (RLRL) TherapyThe research shows that, compared with traditional methods, it has achieved promising results in controlling the growth of the eye axis.「1」。

Professor Wang Kai from Peking University People's Hospital and Professor Song Hongxin from Beijing Tongren HospitalIn well-known ophthalmology journalsJAMA OphthalmologyPublished titledChanges in Cone Density After Repeated Low-Intensity Red Light Therapy in Children with MyopiaResearch Paper。The study suggests that,AlthoughRLRL therapy may control myopia progression, but further research is needed to clarify its long-term efficacy and safety.The findings of AO-SLO in this study support further evaluation of the risk-benefit balance of RLRL therapy in pediatric myopia patients and may also encourage more explorations incorporating AO-SLO assessment into studies on the efficacy and safety of RLRL therapy.「1」。

In this study,ResearcherFirst PassAO-SLO TechnologyImaging Analysis of Individual Cone Cells in the Living Retina, Evaluate the impact of RLRL therapy on cone cells，Opens a new window for the microscopic safety research of red light therapy.

So, what is adaptive optics (AO) Technology?

-02-

AO Technology: Cross-Boundary Breakthrough from Astronomy to Ophthalmology.

Adaptive Optics（AO) technology was born in the astronomical field. It is a technology that improves the imaging quality of optical systems by correcting wavefront distortions in real time. It is mainly applied in fields such as astronomical observation, laser communication, ophthalmic medicine, and military to overcome the impact of atmospheric turbulence or defects in the optical system on light propagation.

In 1997,University of Rochester, USALiang, Williams, and Miller were the first to apply AO technology to human eye aberration correction.。

Adaptive Optics Laboratory, Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, USA

Working Principle of Adaptive Optics Fundus Imaging System

RecentlyFor 28 years, scientists have combined AO technology with various retinal imaging methods and conducted countless studies. For instance, in combination with flood-illumination ophthalmoscopy.AO-FIO, combined with confocal laser scanningConfocal AO-SLO，Combined with Optical Coherence TomographyAO-OCT, andMultiple Scattered Light and Phase Contrast AO-SLOAndFluorescence AO-SLO etc.

Timeline of Major Developments in AO Technology Over the Past 28 Years

The emergence of AO technology has completely revolutionized the field of retinal imaging. It significantly enhances image contrast and resolution, providing unprecedented high-precision observation methods for research on retinal physiology and pathology. With its excellent imaging capabilities, AO technology has gained widespread recognition in both industry and academia, establishing its core position in ophthalmic diagnosis and research.

In 2012,Champalimaud Foundation (Champalimaud Foundation)AO TechnologyOptical Coherence Tomography (OCT) jointly rated as"Two Most Influential Technologies in Ophthalmic Imaging in the 21st Century"。 

2024Year,The Founder of Adaptive Optics Fundus Imaging Technology HonoredPhotonics and Nutrition"Nobel Prize"——Rank Prize`, further confirming the milestone significance of this disruptive fundus examination technology in the field of ophthalmic imaging.`

ChinaResearch on AO technology started relatively early.In 1979,The Chengdu Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, took the lead in conducting research on adaptive optics.In 1997,China has begun to expand adaptive optics technology into the medical field, almost in sync with international developments. However, currentlyThe application development and related research of AO technology in ophthalmology are mostly still in the laboratory stage. Due to the fact that this technology involves multiple disciplines such as optics, electronics, and computer science, it has extremely high technical barriers, a long R&D cycle, and requires substantial resource investment.Achieving commercialization and clinical application faces many challenges.

In 2024, the StarMirror® self-adaptive system independently developed by Robotrak Technologies Co., Ltd.Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (AO-SLO)Successfully ObtainedJiangsu Provincial Drug AdministrationIssued byInnovative Medical Device Registration Certificate, becomingThe World's First Commercial AO-SLO (Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope) System。This breakthrough marksAO-SLO Technology Makes a Qualitative Leap from Laboratory to Clinical Application.

Traditional cone cell observation mainly relies on in vitro high-power microscopes, which not only involve complex operations but also severely limit dynamic disease research.StellarLens® solves the pain points and difficulties in the commercialization of adaptive optical systems.Its compact size and simple operation enhance the resolution of fundus images to 0.7μm, which is 5-10 times higher than OCT or other traditional imaging devices.Currently the world's only commercially available system that can directly image and automatically quantify individual photoreceptor cell structures.Analysis ofAO-SLO System Provides a New Tool for Safety Evaluation of Red Light Therapy.

-04-
AO-SLO: A New Dimension in Ophthalmic ApplicationsJourney.

AO-SLO, with its submicron resolution, not only enables clear imaging of static structures such as cone cells, blood vessels, and nerve fibers, but also supports dynamic blood flow monitoring, demonstrating great application potential in multiple fields.

4.1 Basic Research on Disease Pathogenesis

Through high-precision imaging of retinal cells and tissue structures,AO-SLO can help researchers deeply explore the pathogenesis of ophthalmic and related diseases, reveal the intrinsic molecular and cellular mechanisms during the occurrence and development of diseases, and provide a theoretical basis for the development of new treatment methods.

4.2 Ultra-earlyPrecise Lesion Screening

For hereditary retinal diseases,Stargardt disease, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and other ophthalmic diseases, AO-SLO can perform ultra-early lesion screening. For example, in the early stage of diabetic retinopathy, AO-SLO can detect subtle changes in retinal microvessels, enabling early detection and diagnosis of the disease, and buying precious treatment time for patients.

4.3 Comprehensive Evaluation of Innovative Therapies

In the evaluation of innovative treatments such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and phototherapy,AO-SLO plays a key role. It can quantitatively analyze the treatment effects, evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatment, and provide scientific and reliable evidence for clinical applications.

4.4 Full-process Treatment and Follow-up for Ophthalmic Diseases

AO-SLO Can Improve the Follow-up System for Ophthalmic Disease Treatment. By regularly performing fundus imaging examinations on patients and tracking treatment outcomes, doctors can promptly adjust treatment plans, increase treatment success rates, and improve patient prognosis.

4.5 Frontier Research in Interdisciplinary Fields

AO-SLO also provides new opportunities for interdisciplinary research. By conducting cross-disciplinary studies to explore the connections between neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease and ophthalmic conditions, it offers novel approaches and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Additionally, in-depth research into changes in retinal hemodynamics and their association with systemic conditions like hypertension and diabetes can provide crucial references for the early diagnosis and treatment of systemic diseases.

-05-
Call: Scientific prevention and control, safety first.

WithClinical Application Breakthrough of AO-SLO Technology: Robotrak Technologies Achieves Technical Capability for Precise Evaluation of Repeated Low-Intensity Red Light Therapy (RLRL) Safety at the Living Retinal Level for the First Time. Existing clinical evidence shows that while RLRL demonstrates potential efficacy in myopia control, its long-term mechanism of action and safety still require multidimensional research for validation.The research on innovative technologies such as AO-SLO will continuously drive the myopia prevention and control system towards a more rigorous and scientific direction.To provide safer and more effective solutions for myopia prevention and control in children and adolescents worldwide.

References for this article:

Liao X, Yu J, Fan Y, et al. Cone Density Changes After Repeated Low-Level Red Light Treatment in Children With Myopia. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online April 24, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.0835

Innovative Pharmaceuticals/Biotechnology

Follow「Herbal Capital"】WeChat Official Account and set it as 'Star ⭐' to receive the latest updates第一时间收获最新推送."