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Key takeaways:
For both devices, 3 minutes of continuous viewing approached or surpassed the maximum permissible exposure of low-level red light.
Researchers expressed safety concerns about LLRL device use in children.
Researchers cautioned clinicians to strongly reconsider using low-level red-light therapy in children with myopia, citing safety concerns revealed by a study published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics.
“To date, there are no published studies that have used sensitive enough functional testing and high-resolution imaging to assess the retina,” study author Lisa A. Ostrin, OD, PhD, FAAO, FARVO, associate professor at University of Houston College of Optometry, told Healio. “Additionally, there are no long-term studies; therefore, potential long-term side effects remain unknown.”
Ostrin and colleague, Alexander W. Schill, PhD, examined two Class 1 low-level red-light (LLRL) devices, Sky-n1201a and Future Vision.
According to the study, the Sky-n1201a device delivered laser light with a 654 nm wavelength at 0.2 mW power, 1.17 mW/cm2 corneal irradiance and 7.2 W/cm2 retinal irradiance. The maximum permissible exposure (MPE) for photochemical damage is 0.55 seconds to 7 seconds for 2 mm to 7 mm pupils and 0.41 seconds to 10 seconds for thermal damage for 4.25 mm to 7 mm pupils.
The Future Vision device delivered a laser light with a 652 nm wavelength, at 0.06 mW power, 0.624 mW/cm2 corneal irradiance and 0.08 W/cm2 retinal irradiance. The MPE for photochemical damage is 50 seconds to 625 seconds for 2 mm to 7 mm pupils, but this device does not put the retina at risk for thermal damage, the researchers noted.
Three minutes of continuous viewing with either device “approached or surpassed the MPE, putting the retina at risk of photochemical and thermal damage,” they wrote.
“We caution both clinicians and parents in using the devices we tested, particularly the Sky-1201n, for red-light therapy,” Ostrin told Healio. “There are many different devices on the market, and they have not all gone through thorough testing and safety cannot be assumed. From an evidence-based standpoint, the exact specifications required for effective red-light therapy in myopia management are unknown.”
Since the publication of the study, Eyerising International, the manufacturer of the Eyerising Myopia Management Device, submitted a letter to the editor at Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics written by John Battersby, public relations contact for Eyerising, to address alleged inaccuracies and misrepresentations in the study. He wrote that “only two devices were tested in their laboratory, and neither of them was an Eyerising device.”
Paul Cooke, Eyerising CEO, told Healio that the company has “every confidence in the safety of [its] device.”
“We were not surprised by the response to our study,” Ostrin told Healio. “We recognize that our findings have broad implications in clinical practice. Since the publication of our paper, several colleagues and researchers have reached out and confirmed our initial findings and conclusions. There is widespread concern that, at least from some manufacturers, these devices might not be safe for children to be viewing.
“We hope that our study increases the quality and depth of research related to low-level red-light devices,” she added.
Disclosures: Battersby provides public relations services to Eyerising. Cooke is employed by Eyerising. Ostrin and Schill report no relevant financial disclosures.
Read more about
myopia
equipment safety
childhood myopia
acute and chronic adverse effects
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Research shows red light therapy may smooth your skin and help with wrinkles. Researchers think it does this by stimulating collagen production, which helps improve skin elasticity. Research shows it also helps improve signs of sun damage.
The therapy is minimally disruptive and has been shown to slow the progression of myopia in children. However, before the therapy can be widely adopted, the long-term safety of the treatment must be assessed, and the mechanism underlying the treatment effect needs to be better understood.
Light therapy is safe but for your peace of mind, eye protection should be one of the top priorities. During these sessions, the intense light emitted can pose a risk to your eyes if stared at directly for an extended period.
It is generally safe for the eyes. However, if you experience any unusual symptoms or discomfort after red light therapy, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional.
Is red light therapy effective? Most experts say that they don't know yet if RLT is effective for all its claimed uses. Most say that the studies published so far show some potential for certain conditions, but that more studies need to be conducted.
Outdoor light is typically towards the blue end of the spectrum [8]. Research has shown that blue light can make axial length shorter and the choroid thicker [9][10] – both of which are beneficial with respect to myopia.
These results were seen after individuals were exposed to deep red light for three minutes a day over a period of two weeks. Findings showed that rod sensitivity, which helps people see in low light, also improved with deep red light therapy.
Red light therapy may be beneficial when it comes to improved skin appearance, wound healing and pain management, according to current research. Red light therapy uses the therapeutic application of light energy primarily to aid in the healing of skin and muscular conditions, such as scarring and tendonitis.
The major contraindications for the use of light therapy are diseases that involve the retina of the eye, such as diabetes, and the use of photosensitizing medications like lithium, melatonin, phenothiazine antipsychotics, and certain antibiotics.
“There is no maximum or limit to exposure,” he adds. The number of treatments you need may vary depending on the specific red light therapy device you're using.
Red light therapy works by increasing blood flow and oxygenation in the brain. Applications can be wide effect or targeted. When the light is absorbed by mitochondria there is a downstream effect of improving vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) allowing for improved delivery of nutrient rich blood to the brain.
What are the cons of red light therapy? Red light therapy can result in burns or blisters from using the device for longer than 30 minutes or due to damage to the device or its parts. Red light therapy is also not typically covered by insurance, and so you may have to pay for it out of pocket.
For most conditions, three sessions per day for 20 minutes each can be sufficient to achieve significant benefits. However, some people may require longer or more frequent sessions to achieve the desired results. Performing three treatments of 20 minutes a day should work best and longer than this could be damaging.
Fricke: Red light therapy is considered safe. Treatment with red and near-infrared light does not generate as much heat as other types of light treatments (such as blue light) and therefore carries a lower risk of adverse effects such as hyperpigmentation.
Meta-analyses revealed that a significant reduction in depression symptom severity was associated with bright light treatment (eight studies, having an effect size of 0.84 and 95% confidence interval [CI] of 0.60 to 1.08) and dawn simulation in seasonal affective disorder (five studies; effect size=0.73, 95% CI=0.37 to ...
You have probably also heard that it does nothing and is just another trend. The truth is that red light therapy has many potential benefits, but according to our experts, it hasn't been studied enough to back all of its supposed benefits—at least, not yet.
However, some popular FDA-cleared devices include the dpl® Deep Penetrating Infrared FlexPad Light Therapy System, Medlight 630 Pro Hand Held Red Light Therapy, and others. Each device has unique features tailored for different treatment areas and conditions.
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