Looking into a deep red light for 3 minutes each day may significantly improve declining eyesight, according to a study published in Journals of Gerontology.

“The age spectrum of human populations is shifting towards the elderly with larger proportions suffering physical decline,” the researchers explain. The retina, in particular, ages faster than other organs, with a 70% adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reduction over life and a significant decline in photoreceptor function.

As mitochondria assist in cellular function in the form of ATP, the mitochondria significantly influence the pace of aging. They also possess specific light absorbance characteristics that impact their performance. For example, longer wavelengths spanning 650 to up to 1000 nm can improve mitochondrial complex activity and ATP production.

“Mitochondrial density is greatest in photoreceptors and their decline can be linked to reductions in retinal function and the onset of age-related disease,” the authors write. However, because mitochondria absorb longer wavelengths, including those beyond the limits of human vision, aged mitochondrial performance can be optically improved through photobiomodulation.

To test whether brief daily exposure to 670 nm can improve aged human retinal function, the researchers conducted a study with 24 healthy subjects, ranging in age from 28 to 72 years. Older patients were classified as such if they were older than 38 years. The cohort was divided into groups where participants underwent different tests to measure rod (scotopic) thresholds and color contrast sensitivity (CCS).

The CCS group consisted of 6 younger (5 female) and 6 older (4 female) subjects while the scotopic threshold group included 6 younger (4 female) and 6 older (4 female) participants. For 2 weeks, participants used 670-nm light devices to illuminate their dominant eye every morning for 3 minutes.

To assess CCS, the researchers measured color contrast thresholds across the protan (red visual axis) and tritan (blue visual axis) axes both prior to and after 670-nm exposure. To test rod thresholds, subjects had their pupils dilated and dark adapted for 40 minutes. Investigators used the Medmont dark-adapted chromatic perimeter to measure retinal sensitivities…..

Read more: https://www.ajmc.com/view/can-red-light-exposure-improve-eyesight

Source: AJMC