In recent years, low-level red light (LLRL) therapy has become increasingly popular for controlling myopia, especially in children. In LLRL therapy, children are asked to look into a device that emits red light for three minutes, twice a day, five days a week, for the duration of their treatment, which can take years.
Studies have shown that the treatment is effective and can significantly slow the progression of myopia, and it has already been used to treat myopia in over 100,000 pediatric patients.
Even if a drug passes clinical trials, it isn’t safe in all cases, and stricter standards need to be created, says Lisa Ostrin, a professor at the University of Houston. This treatment may pose a risk of photochemical and thermal damage to the retina..
Photo credit: Getty Images, University of Houston
Ostrin tested two different LLRL devices and determined that both were Class 1 laser products, as defined by International Electrotechnical Commission standards, but Ostrin said they were not safe to observe continuously for the required three-minute treatment period.
Class 1 lasers are low-power devices that are considered safe from any potential hazards if accidentally viewed for a short period of time. Examples of Class 1 lasers include laser printers, CD players, and digital video disc (DVD) devices. Class 1 lasers are not intended to be viewed directly for extended periods of time.
“We found that red light devices for myopia exceeded safety limits,” Ostrin said. “For both LLRL devices evaluated here, three minutes of continuous viewing approached or exceeded the luminance dose MPE, posing a risk of photochemical damage to the retina.”
