Comparison of ophthalmic toxicity of light-emitting diode and organic light-emitting diode light sources

Abstract

The use of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has rapidly increased in recent years. However, the effect of OLEDs on human health has not been studied yet. We investigated morphologic and functional changes after OLEDs exposure of human ocular cells, including corneal, conjunctival, lens, and retinal pigment epithelial cells, and mouse eyes. In corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells, the levels of reactive oxygen species production and interleukin-8 expression after white light-emitting diodes (LED) exposure were significantly greater than those after OLED exposure. Although no gross morphologic changes of the eyelid or cornea were found in LED- or OLED-exposed mice, oxidative stress on ocular surface was significantly increased, and the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was significantly shorter in both light-treated groups than the control group. Moreover, ONL thickness was significantly lower in the LED group than the OLED group. The electroretinography response was significantly lower in light exposure group, and there was significant difference between LED- and OLED-treated mice. Although OLED exhibits certain ocular toxicity, it can be less toxic to eyes than LED. The higher blue-wavelength energy of LED light might be the reason for its higher toxicity relative to OLED.