RED & NEAR-INFRARED LIGHT AND THE EYES — WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH ACTUALLY SHOW?
For years, many people have been told that red or near-infrared light should never be directed toward the eyes. However, research into photobiomodulation (PBM) is giving us a much more interesting and nuanced picture.
LIGHTSITE III — 24-month clinical research
One of the strongest examples is the LIGHTSITE III randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial involving 100 people and 148 eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Researchers used the Valeda Light Delivery System, which delivers 590 nm, 660 nm red and 850 nm near-infrared light. After 24 months, researchers reported improvement in best-corrected visual acuity and described a favorable safety profile with “no signs of phototoxicity.”
PubMed — LIGHTSITE III 24-month study ↗FDA authorization
This isn't just experimental research. In November 2024, the U.S. FDA authorized marketing of the Valeda Light Delivery System for improving visual acuity in certain patients with dry AMD. The FDA states that the device uses three LEDs at different wavelengths to deliver treatment to the eye.
670 nm human research
There is also published human research specifically using 670 nm red light.
One study exposed the eye to 670 nm light at 40 mW/cm² for two minutes, producing a dose of 4.8 J/cm².
PubMed ↗670 nm dry-AMD research
Another study involving patients with dry AMD used 670 nm LED PBM at 50 mW/cm², delivering 4 J/cm² per dose over 88 seconds for nine treatment sessions.
The research is specific — and that's important.
The important takeaway is NOT that every red or infrared light source—or every laser—is automatically safe for the eyes.
The research shows something much more specific and significant:
Carefully dosed red and near-infrared photobiomodulation, including wavelengths around 660–670 nm and 850 nm, is being deliberately applied to human eyes under controlled conditions.
Clinical studies have reported encouraging visual outcomes and favorable safety findings, and the FDA has now authorized an ophthalmic PBM device for certain patients with dry AMD.
The science continues to evolve
The science of light and eye health is continuing to evolve, and I encourage everyone interested in this subject to read the published research for themselves.
