Discover how red light therapy may help improve declining eyesight naturally, according to new scientific research findings.
Many people notice their eyesight slipping as they age, and screen use can speed the process. Several factors contribute, including:
Common signs include trouble focusing, dryness, itchiness, light sensitivity, eye pain, discharge, or a white pupil. Symptoms often pick up around 40–50, making close-up tasks such as reading harder. In short, the older you get, the more your vision can fade.
Standard care includes lubricating drops, updated glasses, and lifestyle changes. Red light therapy is now being studied as an additional way to support aging eyes. If you wonder whether light therapy is safe for eyes, early data suggest it can be—read on for how it might help.
How does red light therapy affect your eyes?
You may know light therapy for skin or pain, but it is also being explored for vision. A study in The Journals of Gerontology tested brief, daily exposure to deep-red light and saw better letter recognition against matching backgrounds in adults.
Lead author Professor Glen Jeffrey (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) explained: “As you age your visual system declines significantly, particularly once over 40. Your retinal sensitivity and your colour vision are both gradually undermined... we sought to reboot the retina's aging cells with short bursts of longwave light.”
The retina ages faster than many organs; ATP drops by roughly 70 % over life and photoreceptor function falls. Red light may stimulate mitochondria, which could raise ATP and support cell performance—an effect researchers hope might slow some age-related changes.
WHO: Vision impairment & eye care PubMed search: red light retina FDA: Eye-device safety
Professor Jeffrey continues, “Mitochondrial density is highest in photoreceptors, and their decline can be linked to reduced retinal function and the onset of age-related disease.” In other words, stimulating ATP production in retinal cells may help photoreceptors perform better.
Initial experiments in mice, bumblebees, and fruit flies showed improved photoreceptor performance after exposure to 670 nm deep-red light. The team then moved to a small human study.
Twenty-four healthy volunteers (12 male, 12 female) aged 28–72 with no history of eye disease were given a pocket LED torch. Each participant looked into the device with the dominant eye for three minutes every morning.
After daily 670 nm exposure, retinal photoreceptor function appeared to improve. “The technology is simple and appears safe; the deep-red wavelength is absorbed by mitochondria in the retina that supply energy for cellular function,” said Glen Jeffery.
These early results suggest red-light exposure might support retinal health, but larger trials are needed before clinical recommendations can be made. Kayian’s red-light therapy devices are available for professional or personal use; contact the team for private-label options.
