Dec. 26, 2023
Numerous peer-reviewed clinical studies show that red light therapy is a safe, natural way to protect your vision and heal your eyes from damage and fatigue. Red light (mid-600 nanometer range) and near-infrared light (mid-800 nanometer range) wavelengths have been tested in multiple clinical trials and found to be safe and effective for eye health and vision protection. With the help of light therapy, people with age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma see significant improvements in vision, and people with eye injuries heal faster and with less inflammation.
Red light therapy promotes eye health and prevents vision loss
Age-related macular degeneration affects nearly 200 million people worldwide. This is a common condition that occurs as the eyes age and core ATP energy production in the eye cells decreases. The decline of eye cells can lead to inflammation, cell degeneration, and ultimately loss of vision and subsequent daily problems. There is currently no cure.
One of the main mechanisms of action of red light therapy is that natural light stimulates the mitochondria in cells to produce more ATP energy. Red light therapy can combat a major factor in macular degeneration, helping the cells in your eyes work efficiently and produce energy, even as you age.
In a nutshell: Light therapy delivers safe, concentrated wavelengths of natural light directly to the mitochondria in your cells. These red and near-infrared wavelengths of light reduce oxidative stress so your body is able to produce more usable ATP energy to power itself. This can enhance function, speed healing, and reduce inflammation and pain, as evidenced by numerous peer-reviewed studies.
Study shows red light may prevent age-related vision loss
In recent years, we have learned more about the potential of red light to treat eyes and vision. In 2018, a revealing long-term study published its conclusions after following 33 patients for 5 years. The average age of participants was 67, and results were monitored for five years. Patient experiences of red light therapy:
Significant improvement in visual acuity, or clarity of vision (measured by the ability to discern letters and numbers at a distance).
Edema and bleeding are significantly reduced, which means less distorted vision and less broken blood vessels.
There are no negative effects, which is common in almost all studies on red light.
Laboratory studies of red light and mammalian vision have demonstrated two promising roles in protecting the eye from vision loss:
Reduce Inflammation: Eye inflammation, common with any injury or stress, increases oxidative stress and reduces ATP energy production, ultimately leading to vision loss. Clinical data shows that red light therapy reduces eye inflammation. Hundreds of other peer-reviewed studies have documented how red light therapy reduces inflammation throughout the body.
More ATP Energy: Every cell is always producing ATP energy to fuel your body. ATP is essential for cell survival and function, and the risk is particularly high for eye cells responsible for vision. Several studies have shown that red light therapy increases ATP production in the eyes.
Reducing inflammation and increasing ATP energy production is a potent combination for eye health and vision, preventing the gradual decline of cells and functions that lead to vision loss as we age.
Red light therapy for retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is the most common cause of inherited blindness. This degenerative disease destroys cells in the retina, causing difficulty seeing at night, loss of peripheral vision, and ultimately blindness. In 2012, researchers examined the use of red light therapy in a mammalian model of retinitis pigmentosa and found that natural light therapy promoted mitochondrial integrity and function, prevented photoreceptor cell death, and preserved retinal function. To determine the safety of red light therapy, researchers conducted trials using 670nm red light and 830nm near-infrared light. They found both to be safe for clinical use and even found that near-infrared light "exerted a strong retinal protective effect."
