How Red Light Therapy Glasses May Benefit Eye Health and Vision Improvement?
Posted by GEGARY
Red Light Therapy Glasses for Eye Health and Protecting Against Vision Loss
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects nearly 200 million people globally and is a leading cause of vision loss. This condition develops as the eyes age, leading to a decline in ATP energy production in ocular cells. As these cells lose efficiency, inflammation and degeneration occur, ultimately causing a progressive decline in vision. Unfortunately, there is no cure for AMD.
Red light therapy offers a promising approach by stimulating the mitochondria in your cells to produce more ATP energy, which is crucial for cellular function. By targeting one of the primary factors in macular degeneration, red light therapy helps improve cellular efficiency and energy production, even as you age.
In simple terms, red light therapy uses safe, concentrated wavelengths of natural light to reach the mitochondria in your cells. These red and near-infrared wavelengths reduce oxidative stress, allowing your body to generate more ATP energy. This boost in energy enhances cell function, accelerates healing, and reduces inflammation and pain, as shown in numerous peer-reviewed studies.
How does Eyes Work?
When it comes to vision, many of us are familiar with the retina—a light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that houses photoreceptor cells known as rods and cones. These cells allow us to process light. Rod cells are responsible for low-light or night vision, as they require less energy to activate. Cone cells, on the other hand, need more energy and handle daytime vision and color perception.
In modern times, we often overuse our cone cells due to increased exposure to artificial lighting. With the ability to fully illuminate our homes and workplaces at any hour, we rely heavily on our cone cells for visual tasks, even in the evening when rod cells would typically take over. This constant stimulation of cone cells prevents rod cells from activating, as they only respond to low-light conditions.
As we age, this imbalance between photoreceptor cells can become problematic. Rod cells may begin to deteriorate, leaving cone cells to take over as the primary source of vision. While cone cells don't die off, they lose efficiency, leading to a gradual decline in visual performance. This decline is linked to a reduction in mitochondrial function, which diminishes the energy available for cell activity. Cone cells, in particular, start to experience reduced capacity around the age of 40, coinciding with the common onset of vision decline.
To maintain strong, healthy vision, it's essential to support cellular health as we age.
How Red Light Therapy Glasses May Benefit Eye Health
Boosting Mitochondrial Function
The eyes, particularly the retina, contain a high number of mitochondria, the cell's energy producers. As we age, mitochondrial function declines, affecting the health of these cells and leading to vision issues. Red light therapy stimulates the mitochondria to produce more ATP (energy), promoting better cell repair and overall eye function.
Slowing Age-Related Vision Decline
Over time, oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage accumulate in the eyes, contributing to age-related vision loss. Red light therapy glasses may slow this process by improving mitochondrial efficiency, potentially helping prevent or slow the onset of conditions like macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are major contributors to various eye diseases. Red light therapy has shown anti-inflammatory properties, which could reduce damage caused by these conditions. This is especially important for eye health, as oxidative stress directly impacts the retina and other delicate structures.
Improved Blood Flow
Red light therapy stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which improves blood circulation. For eye health, this increased blood flow helps deliver more oxygen and essential nutrients to the eyes, supporting their overall function and health.
Research and Evidence Supporting Red Light Therapy for Eye Health
Research on Age-Related Vision Loss
In a 2020 study published in The Journals of Gerontology, participants aged 40 and over used red light therapy on their eyes for 3 minutes daily over two weeks. The results showed a 17% improvement in color contrast sensitivity, an essential component of visual acuity. The study suggested that red light therapy could help combat age-related vision decline by supporting mitochondrial health.
Research on Retinal Protection
A 2019 study published in Scientific Reports found that near-infrared light therapy could protect retinal cells from damage due to excessive light exposure and oxidative stress. The study highlighted that red light therapy enhanced mitochondrial function in retinal cells, making it a potential treatment for retinal degenerative conditions.
Photobiomodulation for Macular Degeneration
A study published in Lasers in Medical Science (2015) looked at photobiomodulation (the broader term for light therapy) for treating age-related macular degeneration. The researchers found that red light therapy improved vision and reduced the progression of the disease in individuals with early and intermediate stages of macular degeneration.
Impact on Glaucoma and Retinal Ganglion Cells
A small pilot study published in BMC Ophthalmology (2020) suggested that near-infrared light therapy helped reduce intraocular pressure and improve retinal ganglion cell function in patients with glaucoma, potentially slowing the progression of this eye disease.
Positive Effects in Animal Studies
Studies on animals have shown that red light therapy can improve retinal function and protect against degeneration. For example, in a 2018 study published in Neurobiology of Aging, mice exposed to red light therapy had significantly less age-related damage in their retinal cells compared to those who did not receive the therapy.
How to Use Red Light Therapy Glasses
Red light therapy glasses are designed to fit comfortably while emitting the optimal wavelength of light to reach the retina and other parts of the eye. Here are key considerations for using them:
Duration and Frequency: Typically, these glasses are worn for about 3 minutes per day, 1 time a week, depending on the condition and guidance from your healthcare provider.
Safety Considerations: Although red and near-infrared light is generally safe for the eyes, it’s important to follow the recommended usage guidelines and consult a healthcare professional before starting any treatment. Avoid exposure to direct, high-intensity light for long periods.
Please refer to this article: 3 minutes of deep red light can improve a person’s vision on MedicalNewsToday
Why Red Light Therapy Glasses are Safe
Unlike UV light, which can damage the eyes, red light therapy does not emit harmful radiation. The wavelengths used (generally between 600-900 nm) are considered safe for the eyes, as they do not generate heat or cause photochemical damage. However, it’s essential to ensure the device is of high quality and follow usage instructions carefully to avoid overstimulation.
And read more reseach on Nature.com:Weeklong improved colour contrasts sensitivity after single 670 nm exposures associated with enhanced mitochondrial function
Abstract
Mitochondrial decline in ageing robs cells of ATP. However, animal studies show that long wavelength exposure (650–900 nm) over weeks partially restores ATP and improves function. The likely mechanism is via long wavelengths reducing nanoscopic interfacial water viscosity around ATP rota pumps, improving their efficiency. Recently, repeated 670 nm exposures have been used on the aged human retina, which has high-energy demands and significant mitochondrial and functional decline, to improve vision. We show here that single 3 min 670 nm exposures, at much lower energies than previously used, are sufficient to significantly improve for 1 week cone mediated colour contrast thresholds (detection) in ageing populations (37–70 years) to levels associated with younger subjects. But light needs to be delivered at specific times. In environments with artificial lighting humans are rarely dark-adapted, hence cone function becomes critical. This intervention, demonstrated to improve aged mitochondrial function can be applied to enhance colour vision in old age.
Introduction
Metabolic rate and ageing are both regulated by mitochondria. Mitochondrial membrane potential, however, declines with age resulting in reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which is a major source of cellular energy. Cellular decline is further accelerated with ageing by increased production of pro-inflammatory reactive oxygen species (ROS)1. Retinal photoreceptors have the greatest mitochondrial density and metabolic demand in the body and age rapidly2. A pivotal point in their functional ageing in the human retina appears to be around 40 years3. Subsequently 30% of central rods progressively die, and while cones remain, they have reduced functionality4,5,6,7. Hence, regenerating aged cone function is vital because in an environment where artificial lighting results in humans rarely being fully dark-adapted and needing their rods, cone function becomes critical.
Exposure to long wavelength light (650–900 nm) in animals improves mitochondrial function, increasing ATP production and reducing ROS8,9. It also reduces the pace of age related cell death in the retina10. These mitochondrial changes translate into improved electrophysiological responses from the ageing retina in both insects and mice11,12. The mechanism may be due to reduced nanoscopic interfacial water layer viscosity around ATP rota pumps, increasing their efficiency13. As neuronal membrane pumps consume large amounts of ATP, mitochondrial decline impacts widely on the energy demands of the nervous system as age erodes pump efficiency14. Hence, improving ATP availability optically has potentially widespread impact including improved patterns of ageing in mammals and extended lifespan in insects15. While few human experiments have been undertaken with long wavelength light in ageing, daily exposures to relatively bright 670 nm light over weeks in aged humans has been demonstrated to improve rod and cone function3,16. But we have no knowledge of how much exposure is needed and how long its influence persists
