Damage caused by exposure to sunlight and bright artificial lights can be prevent by pre-treating eyes with a gentle infrared light.

Müller cells, which are responsible for healing in the eye, can overreact to frequent exposure to bright lights by forming scar tissue. Scar tissue in turn can starve vision cells of nutrients, blood and oxygen. This prompts the Müller cells to overwork, creating more scar tissue which damages vision.

Australian researchers have discovered that infrared light inhibits the Müller cells from multiplying, preventing eye damage.