There’s a lot of confusion among people, who use red light therapy, about the possible side effects of this treatment method on the eyes. Generally, you should avoid looking directly at certain colors and types of light, including UV rays, violet, and blue light.
That’s because these lights have smaller wavelengths and can be harmful to your eyes. But is red light therapy safe? Can it damage your eyes without any eye protection? Let’s discuss how red-light therapy treatment works with your eyes to find the answer.
Is Red Light Harmful to Your Eyes?
The light produced by red light therapy devices that hits the human body during treatment is very bright. Therefore, many people believe that it can be harmful to your eyes.
However, there’s no clear scientific evidence that supports this claim. That’s because the red light that most RLT devices produce has a wavelength that ranges from 620 to 670 nanometers.
According to a study published in ScienceDaily, staring at a deep red light (with 670-nanometer wavelength) for three minutes a day can actually improve declining eyesight.
Another study published in the National Library of Medicine suggests that red light therapy with the same wavelength can decrease inflammation in people suffering from retinal degeneration.
Additionally, Modern RLT devices that come with near-infrared light technology produce light with a wavelength of 810 to 850 nm.
This light is absorbed by your eye cornea but at a minimum level, making it safe. So, you don’t necessarily need to wear any eye protection in normal conditions during red light therapy treatments.
However, if you have sensitive eyes, take medicine causing light sensitivity, or are already suffering from an eye condition, it’s advisable to wear eye protective gear.
What Eye Protection to Use for Red Light Therapy
While you can use simple sunglasses that can block UV light, they don’t work effectively during red-light therapy sessions. You’ll need to use special glasses like the ones that welders and glass blowers use.
There are goggles available in the market that are specially designed for red light therapy sessions. Most red-light therapy goggles can cover a long range of light wavelengths and prevent bright light from reaching your eyes.
You can also find products on the market that block out all kinds of light, such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), red light from LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), and even lasers.
Final Words
You don’t necessarily need to wear any eye protection during red light therapy sessions as the light that red light therapy devices produce is safe for your eyes.
However, if you don’t feel comfortable, have sensitive eyes, take medications that cause photosensitivity, or end up with headaches after an extended exposure to light, you should wear eye protection.
There are different types of specialized goggles available in the market that you can use for this purpose. Some of them just prevent bright light from reaching your eyes, while others can completely block all kinds of light.