Red Light Therapy Counteracts Age-Related Vision Loss

The retina ages faster than other organs in the body due to its high metabolic rate. By the age of 70 years olds, approximately 30% of our central rods have dies and our cones have reduced functionality. Recently use of 670 nm red light has been clinically proven to counteract this age-related vision loss. The improvement is only seen in older adults age 40 years old and older. The use of Red Light Therapy (RLT) to treat eye and vision-related issues is nothing new. Red Light Therapy has historically been used in clinical studies to treat:

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Retinal damage in diabetes

Retinitis pigmentosa

Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4768515/

This article focuses on the recent developments that use 670 nm red light to counteract age-related vision deterioration.

Two Week Clinical Study with Humans

This clinical study with people was based on previous studies using mice. Researchers gathered 24 people, who ranged in age from 28 and 72 years old. None of the participants were suffering from any eye disease. The researchers tested the vision of the participants to establish a baseline for later comparison when the study was completed.

The human eye has two types of photoreceptors in the retina, cones for color vision and rods for b/w dim light vision. Rods are 500 to 1000X more sensitive to light than cones.

The tests measured the sensitivity of the cone and rod photoreceptors in the retina. Once the baseline measurements were taken the study began.

Based on previous studies using mice, researchers provided 24 participants with a handheld 670 nm flashlight. The flashlight had a diffuser screen in front of the LEDs, so the participants were not beaming themselves in the eye with direct light from the LEDs.

The participants were told to look into the red light from the flashlight for three minutes per day, for two weeks. The power output from the flashlight was estimated to be 40 mW/cm² at the corona.

Results

After the two-week period, researchers repeated the vision tests again. They found that the 670 nm light did not affect the younger participants. However, for the older participants 40 years old and older, there were significant improvements in both color vision and light sensitivity.

Color vision contrast improved by approximately 14-20%. Rod light sensitivity increased by 10%. However, the light sensitivity increase in the rods was not considered statistically significant.

Most interesting is that the participants who experienced the improved vision didn’t notice an improvement in their vision.

Research Is Not Therapy

The research is suggestive. The clinical study only lasted two weeks, so the long-term effects of this type of treatment are not known. Looking into the light from the LED could potentially cause permanent damage. Therefore I do not recommend anyone use or try this treatment at home.

670 nm Flashlight

This torch has a wavelength that has been used by researchers to improve the color contrast and night vision of adults.

Amazon sells a 670 nm flashlight. The Amazon link below is NOT an affiliate link, I have no financial incentive whether or not you purchase this item.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MV9XJBT

I checked the radiant power output of the flashlight, and it is in the chart next to the photograph of the flashlight.

Am I recommending you use this flashlight to improve your eyesight? No, I am not. Even the weaker intensity of the red light from this 670 nm flashlight gave me a green afterglow in my vision with a diffuser. While this green afterglow may be normal until I know precisely the safe parameters I don’t recommend anyone doing this.

Eyepower Red — Entering The Commercial Market

A U.K.-based company is planning on manufacturing low-power 670 nm eyepieces to help rejuvenate aging eyes.

https://eye-power.co.uk/

The company is pre-selling these eye-pieces. I have no financial incentive whether or not you purchase this item.

More Information on Red Light Therapy and Photobiomodulation

I recently published a book on Red Light Therapy, titled “Living Younger Longer Using Red Light Therapy”. The book is available on Amazon.com, I have ePub, PDF, and print books available from my website at :

https://john-iovine.com/living-younger-longer.html

Disclaimer

The content and information contained in this article are for informational purposes only. The information provided in this article is not and must not be taken as an alternative to any advice by a doctor, physician, or medical professional.

The author, John Iovine, has narrated his research experiences in this article by observing and evaluating facts and figures. The reliance on the facts and figures has been done in good faith and believed to be reliable according to the author’s best knowledge. The sources of referenced information could change or be updated in the future. The author cannot guarantee the validity and accuracy of the sources which may change, be modified, updated, or removed in the future, and thus, disclaims himself from any such changes, modifications, updates, and removals.