Red Light Therapy Could Help Reverse the Effects of Aging on Vision
Sight is an essential part of life for a large percentage of the general population, yet it is oftentimes the most overlooked part of our health. As our lives transition towards being online and frequently behind a computer screen, it becomes even more necessary to take care of the organs that allow us to see the world.
The ability of our eyes to see is dependent on light. Light is quantified in waves, and the light that our eyes use to see is measured in nanometers. When light strikes our eyes, it passes through the cornea and becomes absorbed by photoreceptors in the retina, which converts that light into a signal that is then transferred to your brain.¹ When our brain receives these signals, we are able to “see.”
The retina is primarily made up of two main photoreceptors: rods and cones. Rods allow us to see at low light levels, whereas cones allow us to see in bright light. Cones are also responsible for color vision. Rods and cones work together to allow us to see objects at a sharp focus and to discern between colors; however, studies have shown a large decline in rod and cone performance after the age of 40 and 30% of rods and cones have died by age 70².
When we age, the mitochondria in our cells are less capable of producing energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)³. What that means is that the part of the cell that is meant to provide energy can no longer supply the same amount as when we are young. Because of that, cells and organs decline in activity and function. One of the fastest aging organs we have is the retina. The retina sees a 70% decrease in energy production throughout our lifetime, and as a result, the photoreceptors of the retina see a loss of function⁴.
Due to this loss of function and decreased energy output from mitochondria, it is increasingly common to see eye disorders in older adults, with some of the most prominent ones being glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration⁵. Studies have even found a correlation between neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s being linked to failing optic function due to lowered mitochondrial activity⁶. Luckily, research has shown a possible method to correct for some of the damage done to our eyes: light therapy.
Light therapy is a term used to describe any sort of treatment involving exposure to artificial light, and it is most commonly seen as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder. However, new research has shown that light therapy might be able to reverse the mitochondrial loss of function in our eyes.
Mitochondria have a specific wavelength of light where they are able to operate at their optimal potential, with the absorption of longer wavelengths of 650 to 1000 nanometers promoting ATP production. By providing mitochondria with exposure to long length light, we can improve aging eyesight.
A study analyzed participants ranging from age 28 to 72, finding that in those aged 40 and older, spending three minutes every day for two weeks looking into the deep red light of a small LED light saw an improvement of color detection up to 20%⁷. Similar to charging a battery, looking into the red light allows the mitochondria in our eyes to “charge” and produce more energy that helps improve our eyesight. The lights used in the study were simple, commercial torches with LEDs behind a light diffuser, costing less than twenty dollars to produce, making this light therapy affordable and easy to reproduce.
Research has also found that red light therapy can help repair damage in the optic nerve and may prevent the effects of phototoxicity, which can lead to age-related macular degeneration⁸. By spending just three minutes a day looking into red light, we can see amazing benefits to the age-related degeneration of our eyesight. While this study is a great breakthrough in extending the longevity of our eye health, it is important to remember that it is extremely preliminary and has not undergone extensive review by the FDA to determine its long term effects. In time, it could evolve to become a commonly used method to treat age-related eye deficiencies.
Endnotes
- The Anatomy of the Eye. Kellogg Eye Center: Michigan Medicine. www.umkelloggeye.org/conditions-treatments/anatomy-eye.
- Glen J., Magella N., Victor C., Chris H., Sobha S., Manjot G., & Harpreet S. (2020). Optically improved mitochondrial function redeems aged human visual decline. The Journals of Gerontology, doi:10.1093/gerona/glaa155
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Rojas, J. C., & Gonzalez-Lima, F. (2011). Low-level light therapy of the eye and brain. Eye and Brain, 3, 49–67. doi.org/10.2147/EB.S21391
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
