# Inhibition of lens-induced myopia in guinea pigs using a far-induced infrared ray material

## TL;DR

This study shows that far-infrared therapy, especially from a new material, can help control myopia in guinea pigs by improving choroidal thickness and reducing hypoxia.

## Contribution

The study introduces an innovative far-infrared material that shows superior myopia control compared to traditional far-infrared sources.

## Key findings

- Both FIRR and FIRM reduced myopia progression and choroidal thinning in guinea pigs.
- FIRM was more effective than FIRR in mitigating choroidal and scleral hypoxia.
- The difference in axial length reduction between FIRR and FIRM was not statistically significant.

## Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated a close relationship between choroidal thickness (ChT), sclera/choroidal hypoxia, and the onset and progression of myopia. Far-infrared (FIR) therapy is a traditional method used to enhance microcirculation. In this study, we estimated the effectiveness of FIR in myopia control and explored its underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we compared the efficacy of FIR from two different sources in controlling myopia.

Guinea pigs were divided into three groups, all of which underwent minus lens induction for 4 weeks. Two of the groups received simultaneous FIR intervention, either from a FIR radiator (FIRR) lamp or from an innovative FIR material (FIRM). Refraction, axial length (AL), ChT, and levels of hypoxia-labeled pimonidazole in the choroid and sclera were measured.

Both FIRR and FIRM inhibited increases in refraction and AL and attenuate the decrease in ChT. They also mitigated choroidal and scleral hypoxia. Compared to FIRR, FIRM demonstrated a greater effect on myopia control and hypoxia attenuation. However, the difference in AL reduction between the two FIR sources was not statistically significant.

FIR effectively controls myopia, and the innovative FIR material may represent a breakthrough in myopia management in the near future.