Additive effects of narrowband light and optical defocus on chick eye growth and refraction

BACKGROUND: In the past decade and during the COVID pandemic, the prevalence of myopia has reached epidemic proportions. To address this issue and reduce the prevalence of myopia and its complications, it is necessary to develop more effective interventions for controlling myopia. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of narrowband lights and competing defocus on eye growth and refraction in chicks, an important step in understanding the potential for these interventions to control myopia. This is the first time these effects have been characterized. METHODS: Three groups of five-day-old chicks (n = 8 per group) were raised in three different lighting conditions: white, red, and blue for 13 days in a 12/12-h light/dark diurnal cycle. One eye was randomly selected for applications of a dual-power optical lens (− 10 D/ + 10 D, 50∶50), while another eye was left untreated as control. Vitreous chamber depth (VCD), axial length (AL), choroidal thickness (CT) and refractive errors were measured at pre-exposure (D0) and following 3 (D3), 7 (D7), 10 (D10), and 13 days (D13) of light exposure. RESULTS: Under white light, the dual-power lens induced a hyperopic shift [at D13, mean spherical equivalent refraction (SER), treated vs. control: 4.81 ± 0.43 D vs. 1.77 ± 0.21 D, P < 0.001] and significantly reduced the progression of axial elongation (at D13, change in AL, treated vs. control: 1.25 ± 0.04 mm vs. 1.45 ± 0.05 mm, P < 0.01). Compared to white light alone, blue light alone induced a hyperopic shift (at D13, mean SER, blue vs. white: 2.75 ± 0.21 D vs. 1.77 ± 0.21 D, P < 0.01) and significantly reduced axial elongation (at D13, change in AL, blue vs. white: 1.17 ± 0.06 mm vs. 1.45 ± 0.05 mm, P < 0.01) in control eyes. When comparing all conditions, eyes exposed to blue light plus dual-power lens had the least axial elongation (at D13, change in AL, 0.99 ± 0.05 mm) and were the most hyperopic (at D13, mean SER, 6.36 ± 0.39 D). CONCLUSIONS: Both narrowband blue light and dual-power lens interventions were effective in inducing a hyperopic shift in chicks, and provided protection against myopia development. The combination of these interventions had additive effects, making them potentially even more effective. These findings support the use of optical defocus interventions in combination with wavelength filters in clinical studies testing their effectiveness in treating myopia in children. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40662-023-00332-7.