By Cory Boone, Optical Engineer, MBA, and Tech Marketer

Does Red Light Therapy Really Improve Your Eyesight? Is red light therapy for eye health an overhyped fad that actually harms your vision? Or is it a powerful new tool to treat and even reverse vision loss? A growing body of research reveals some surprising benefits for eye health, but scams and safety concerns also lurk in this space. In this article, we break down how red and near-infrared light therapy work, what the science says about their effectiveness for eye health, and how to use these techniques safely.

Figure 1: While red light and near-infrared light therapy are commonly used for aesthetic skin treatments, reducing pain, and stimulating hair growth, the patient’s eyes are covered during this treatment. Applying these techniques for direct eye use is in the early stages of research but shows promise for improving eye health.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Red light therapy is a therapeutic technique using specific wavelengths of light around 630 – 670 nm for a variety of medical benefits, and similar effects are observed using near-infrared radiation around 810 – 850 nm. Low levels of these wavelengths penetrate through tissues to stimulate mitochondrial growth without generating too much heat.

This electromagnetic radiation stimulates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which is the energy source for cellular processes like rapidly repairing and regenerating tissues. This process, called photobiomodulation, enhances mitochondrial function and has been widely studied for its effects on tissue repair and inflammation reduction. Red and near-infrared light therapy are commonly used for:

• Stimulating collagen and elastin production to make skin look smoother and younger
• Treating acne
• Reducing pain
• Stimulating hair growth 
• Helping athletes recover faster 

A wealth of research in these areas has led to many FDA-cleared devices for these applications of red light therapy, but there are currently no FDA-cleared red light therapy devices for eye health. However, research suggests that these technologies could have numerous ophthalmic benefits.

Figure 2: Red and near-infrared light therapy stimulate the production of the energy-carrying molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This illustration depicts ATP (shown in red) being synthesized in a mitochondrion.

Impact on Eye Health

Retinal Health

Macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other conditions impacting retinal health are major causes of vision loss. One of the major contributing factors to macular degeneration is chronic inflammation. In addition to stimulating mitochondria to regenerate and repair surrounding tissue, red light therapy boosts antioxidant levels and reduces inflammation. 

A 2020 study showed that 670nm red light was shown to improve photoreceptor performance in macular degeneration patients ranging from 28 – 72 years of age (Shinhmar et al., 2020). Interestingly, it mainly improved their shorter wavelength vision, helping them better see colors like violet and blue. A 2023 study also showed that macular degeneration patients had their vision significantly improved after five weeks of red light therapy, using 590, 660, and 850 nm (Benlahbib et al., 2023). Study participants improved their Snellen eye test results by up to five and a half letters, reading an extra line on the eye chart compared to before starting the study.

There is less in-depth research into the impacts of red and near-infrared light therapy on diabetic retinopathy compared to macular degeneration, but preliminary studies show that these techniques can reduce retinal damage from diabetic retinopathy by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation (Tang et al., 2013).

Treating Dry Eye Syndrome

Millions of people suffer from irritated eyes, blurry vision, and light sensitivity because of dry eye syndrome. A 2023 study showed that red light therapy dramatically reduced dry eye symptoms by increasing participants’ lipid layer thickness (Castro et al., 2023), and another 2023 study showed that Eye-Light® masks from the Espansione Group significantly reduced dry eye symptoms when used for three sessions every two weeks, improving meibomian gland health (Benyoussef et al., 2023).

Slowing Down and Reversing Myopia Progression

The third and final benefit of red light therapy for eye health is slowing down and even reversing the progression of myopia. Two studies from 2024 show that for children ages 8 – 13 (Xiong et al., 2024), and then for ages 4 – 13 in the second study (Qiu et al., 2024), eye elongation and the progression of myopia were stopped and even reversed. 

2023 research showed that myopic children had their required vision correction reduced by 0.68 diopters after six months of red light therapy, simply by looking at a desktop red LED setup at home for three minutes twice a day (Tang et al., 2023). These examples are merely a small part of a larger body of research indicating that these techniques are powerful tools for treating myopia, particularly in childhood.

Risks and Misconceptions 

Despite the promising results, it is important to recognize that red and near-infrared light therapy for eye health is still in the early stages of research; there are currently no FDA-cleared devices for direct eye use. There are some risks and misconceptions that you should be aware of before considering these technologies.

Wavelength Specificity

Therapeutic wavelength ranges for these techniques are roughly 660-670nm for red light therapy and 810-850nm for near-infrared light therapy. Wavelengths outside of this range might not have the same benefits and might even damage cells in the users’ eyes by building up too much heat. 

Risk of Overuse

While the specific wavelength ranges above minimize heat buildup, there still could be some thermal effects that could grow and damage sensitive retinal tissues. 2024 research indicates that more than three minutes of continuous exposure to red and near-infrared light therapy approached or surpassed the maximum permissible thermal and photochemical exposure as dictated by ANSI (Valter et al., 2024).

Misleading Consumer Devices

Many over-the-counter red light therapy devices do not meet scientific standards for wavelength precision or intensity. Many available devices are intended for external use on skin and could be dangerous for eye use.

Red and near-infrared light therapy are exciting frontiers in eye care. While much of the research is still in its early stages, the evidence so far shows real potential for treating conditions like macular degeneration, dry eye, and childhood myopia. But until more large-scale studies are completed — and until devices are rigorously regulated — it is essential to approach red light therapy with both hope and caution. With the right precautions, this technology could become a valuable new tool for protecting and even restoring vision.

Authors Bio
Cory Boone is an optical engineer and tech marketing leader with 10+ years of experience in the photonics industry. He holds a B.S. in Optical Sciences & Engineering and an M.B.A. He is the creator of the popular YouTube channel Vision Vibes [https://www.youtube.com/@Vision-Vibes], where he explains how the eyes, lenses, and vision technologies work, often featuring hands-on experiments and laser demonstrations. 

References

1. Shinhmar, H., Grewal, M., Sivaprasad, S., Hogg, C., Chong, V., Neveu, M., & Jeffery, G. (2020). Optically Improved Mitochondrial Function Redeems Aged Human Visual Decline. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sc, 75(9), 49–52. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa155  
2. Benlahbib, M., Cohen, S. Y., Torrell, N., Colantuono, D., Crincoli, E., Amoroso, F., Semoun, O., Jung, C., & Souied, E. H. (2023). PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY FOR LARGE SOFT DRUSEN AND DRUSENOID PIGMENT EPITHELIAL DETACHMENT IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: A Single-Center Prospective Pilot Study. Retina, 43(8), 1246–1254. https://doi.org/10.1097/IAE.0000000000003805 
3. Tang, J., Du, Y., Lee, C. A., Talahalli, R., Eells, J. T., & Kern, T. S. (2013). Low-intensity far-red light inhibits early lesions that contribute to diabetic retinopathy: in vivo and in vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 54(5), 3681–36890. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-11018   
4. Castro, C., Marques, J. H., Marta, A., Baptista, P. M., José, D., Sousa, P., Menéres, P., & Barbosa, I. (2023). Comparison of Light-Based Devices in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Cureus, 15(7), 41386. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.41386   
5. Benyoussef, A. A., Arzel, F., & Cochener, B. (2023). 3-month post-procedural evaluation of a combined intense pulsed light and photo-biomodulation system in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction. J Fr Ophtalmol, 46(8), 873–881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfo.2022.12.004    
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7. Qiu, K., David, C., Li, Y., Lei, Z., Tong, L., & Lin, W. (2024). A retrospective study of cumulative absolute reduction in axial length after photobiomodulation therapy. BMC Ophthalmol, 24(1), 191. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-024-03427-4  
8. Tang, J., Liao, Y., Yan, N., Dereje, S. B., Wang, J., Luo, Y., Wang, Y., Zhou, W., Wang, X., & Wang, W. (2023). Efficacy of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy for Slowing the Progression of Childhood Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Ophthalmol, 252, 153-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2023.03.036
9. Valter, K., Tedford, S. E., Eells, J. T., & Tedford, C. E. (2024). Photobiomodulation use in ophthalmology – an overview of translational research from bench to bedside. Front Ophthalmol (Lausanne). https://doi.org/10.3389/fopht.2024.1388602