Over the past few years, low-level red light (LLRL) therapy has become popular, especially to control myopia or nearsightedness in children. In LLRL treatment, children are instructed to look into a red light-emitting device for three minutes, twice a day, five days a week for the duration of treatment, which can take years.
Studies have reported that this treatment is effective and responsible for a significant reduction in myopia progression and is already being used to address myopia in more than 100,000 pediatric patients.
Even though it has passed clinical trials, it is not safe in all cases and more stringent standards need to be established, said Lisa Ostrin, a professor at the University of Houston. The treatment may place the retina at risk of photochemical and thermal damage..
Photo courtesy of GETTY Images, courtesy of the University of Houston.
Ostrin tested two different LLRL devices and found both devices to be Class-1 laser products as defined by International Electrotechnical Commission standards, but according to Ostrin, they are not safe to be viewed continuously for the required three minutes of treatment.
Class 1 lasers are low-power devices that are considered safe from all potential hazards when accidentally viewed briefly. Examples of Class 1 lasers include laser printers, CD players, and digital video disc (DVD) devices. Class 1 lasers cannot be viewed directly for long periods of time.
“We found that myopia red light devices exceeded safety limits,” Ostrin said. “Both LLRL devices evaluated here approach or exceed the luminance dose MPE when viewed continuously for 3 minutes, risking photochemical damage to the retina.”
