Key Takeaways
- Red light therapy is being explored as a potential method to slow the progression of macular degeneration by stimulating cells in the eye with low-level light wavelengths.
- Studies suggest red light therapy may improve visual health, particularly in the early stages of dry age-related macular degeneration. Benefits may last around 6 months after treatment.
- While the FDA has approved one red light therapy system for dry age-related macular degeneration, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term safety and effectiveness of this treatment for various types of macular degeneration.
Red light therapy is gaining popularity for various uses, including cosmetic skin care and wound healing. New research indicates that it may also be useful in treating some types of macular degeneration.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the marketing of Valeda Light Delivery System, the first therapeutic option to treat dry age-related macular degeneration in adults. Valeda uses yellow, red, and near-infrared light to stimulate cells in the eye.
More studies are needed to measure the full effect and safety of red light as an eye therapy for all types of macular degeneration.
Red light therapy is a treatment traditionally used for cosmetic conditions. It uses low-level wavelengths of nearly visible infrared light to improve the function and health of individual cells.
Red light therapy works by strengthening the mitochondria, the part of each cell that provides power and energy.
After receiving red light therapy, cells may create more energy molecules that help the body repair tissues and fight inflammation.
Aside from macular degeneration in your eyes, studies show red light therapy can manage symptoms of other health issues, including
Macular degeneration cannot be cured, and there are very few treatments available.
Medications have been developed to treat the wet form of macular degeneration, but there is currently no way to treat dry macular degeneration.
That’s why red light therapy is a growing trend for treating this eye condition.
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM), is being increasingly recognized for its effects on the central nervous system and the retina.
The way red light therapy works on your retina is the same as the way it works for other cells and tissues. The low-level light protects and
- lowering light-related eye stress
- promoting contrast sensitivity
- lowering cell death
- lowering inflammation
- improving visual acuity
Research and clinical trials have indicated that red light therapy as a treatment for macular degeneration may promote improvements in visual health after about 24 months of use.
Red light therapy is still seen as an alternative or complementary treatment for eye conditions, but research into using it as a primary treatment for retina disorders is promising.
Perhaps the most significant finding in recent studies is that red light therapy appears to produce significant improvements for people in the early stages of dry age-related macular degeneration — the type that has traditionally been virtually untreatable.
A 2020 study that tested brief daily treatment with a 670 nanometer red light tool for a period of 2 weeks in people over age 40 found that treatment improved color and contrast vision by 20% on average and up to 47% in younger people.
Another
The improvements lasted approximately 6 months, and the red light therapy was then repeated with similar encouraging results.
Some benefits were also seen in people with wet age-related macular degeneration, but several studies indicate more improvement in the dry versions of the condition.
There are many different kinds of lasers, and not all laser eye treatments use the same type of light.
Laser surgery to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness and astigmatism administers a much higher intensity of invisible light energy than what’s used in red light therapy.
Most laser therapies used in vision treatments use short bursts of cool ultraviolet light with a much shorter wavelength of around 193 nanometers compared with the 670 nanometer wavelength used in red light therapies.
The FDA has approved Valeda as the only safe option to use red light for eye health.
However, more research is needed to determine if red light therapy causes any long-term damage to the eyes.
What does red light therapy cost?
There is not much information on the cost of red light laser therapy for macular degeneration, as it was recently approved by regulators.
However, this Brown Health University article puts the cost between $25 and $200 per session, depending on the area being treated. The American Academy of Ophthalmology believes this red light therapy may start being available at clinics in late 2025, and more pricing and insurance coverage details will be known then.
With how new this therapy is, it’s not yet clear on whether private insurance or Medicare will cover red light therapy. For the moment, it’s considered experimental and not covered by insurance.
Red light therapy is a promising option for treating macular degeneration, especially dry age-related macular degeneration, which is traditionally difficult to treat.
However, more research is needed to understand the full scope of the risks and benefits of this treatment, and it’s not currently recommended.