Red light therapy, also known by names like Low Level Light Therapy or Photobiomodulation, is gaining traction in the realm of eye care. Using a specific range of low-level wavelengths of red light, this non-invasive approach is supported by an increasing amount of research as a treatment for a variety of eye conditions. Here, optometrist Dr. Joseph Allen, O.D. FAAO, known for his YouTube channel Doctor Eye Health, explains what red light therapy is, how it works, and why it may be the next best way to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and promote healing.*

Red Light Therapy for Macular Degeneration

One of the primary applications of red light therapy in eye care research is in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of vision loss, particularly among older adults. Studies have shown that this therapy can help boost the function of mitochondria in the retina’s cells, potentially slowing AMD’s progression. 

In research studies, patients with this degenerative condition have experienced Improvements in:

• Visual acuity, 
• Color vision, and 
• Contrast sensitivity. 

In short, explains Allen, red light therapy can potentially “help restore vision back for these people, and help them see further down the vision chart.”

What’s particularly exciting about this, he says, is that there aren’t too many treatments available for AMD. Currently, severe AMD can only be treated by injecting medication directly into the eye. Red light therapy, on the other hand, is completely non-invasive.

Red Light Therapy for Dry Eyes, Diabetes, and Beyond

According to Allen, red light therapy may have the ability to enhance oil gland function, improve blood circulation, and reduce inflammation, all of which can provide relief for dry eye syndrome—a condition affecting millions globally. 

This therapy also shows promise for diabetic patients struggling with diabetic retinopathy, potentially alleviating some detrimental effects such as diabetic macular edema. 

The implications even extend to myopia (nearsightedness) management, with preliminary studies indicating potential in slowing its development and progression in children. 

Red Light Therapy and Safety

As this field of research develops, establishing standardized treatment protocols will be essential for maximizing the therapy’s benefits. 

Allen says that the results pouring in from recent research studies are exciting, but points out that, despite red light therapy’s potential, the treatment “is still a very new science, especially for the eyes, and we don’t really understand the short-term or long-term consequences of this red light exposure.” 

The therapy has already been approved and is being used as a treatment for AMD in Europe and Latin America, but the FDA has not yet approved its use in the U.S. for eye treatment.

As for readily-available online and over-the-counter red light devices, Allen advises caution, stating that most if not all of those devices “are not specifically designed for eyes, and could actually cause damage to retinal cells.”

*Allen, J. [Doctor Eye Health]. (2024, April 30). Red Light Therapy: Eye Health Miracle? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnbGuZIPljs&t=6s 

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