Double effects of red light on the development of myopia

Abstract

Color vision is known to play an important role in the discrimination and perception of object characteristics. More recently, there are a few trials found that red light stimulation was related with the development of myopia, though the mechanism is unclear. We assume that red light has two effects on the development of myopia. Individuals who are more sensitive to red light tend to develop myopia under white illumination and are unlikely to be myopic under red light: red light can help to inhibit the progress of myopia. By contrast, individuals who are equal sensitive to red light and green light are susceptible to be myopia under red light and keep stable refraction under white light. Thus whether red light illumination leads to myopia depends on the relative sensitivity of L and M cones. If confirmed, this hypothesis may lead to the formulation of new pathogenesis and new therapeutic approaches to myopia.