Therapeutic effects of low‐color‐temperature light‐emitting diodes on dry eye

Abstract Background As a new technology for treating dry eye diseases, phototherapy has attracted great attention, but the research on its safety and effectiveness is limited. In this study, the therapeutic effects of low‐color‐temperature light‐emitting diodes on dry eye in humans, rabbits, and rats were investigated. Methods In clinical experiments, subjects in both groups read the same paper for 3 h under light sources of two color temperatures: 1900 K (low‐color‐temperature light‐emitting diodes) or 4000 K (artificial fluorescent white light‐emitting diodes). The differences in the non‐invasive tear film breakup time, tear meniscus height, and conjunctival congestion scores before and after the experiment were compared between the two groups. In animal experiments, corneal epithelial barrier function and tear production of Sprague–Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits with dry eye were compared before and after low‐color‐temperature light‐emitting diodes treatment. TUNEL staining and Western blotting were used to detect the apoptosis of corneal and conjunctival cells and the expression of inflammatory factor IL‐1β. Results Low‐color‐temperature light‐emitting diodes prolonged tear film breakup time in patients with dry eye. Moreover, it increased tear secretion, decreased fluorescein sodium staining scores, corneal and conjunctival cell apoptosis, and inflammatory factor expression in rabbits and rats with dry eye. Conclusions Low‐color‐temperature light‐emitting diodes phototherapy can be used as an effective treatment for dry eye, reducing its symptoms and related ocular surface damage in humans, rabbits, and rats.