According to a new study published in the journal of Scientific Report, staring at a deep red light every morning for just three minutes, can drastically improve worsening eyesight. A single session of exposure to the light showed an impressive improvement in eyesight that lasted for a week.
As the mitochondria in the photoreceptor cells deteriorate with age, the eyes become less able to generate energy, according to the researchers. Research has indicated in the past that the mitochondria can be strengthened through exposure to long wave legth light, which has a deep red colour.
The retina is known to contain two kinds of photoreceptor cells, the rods and the cones. Rods are responsible for assisting us in seeing low light, while cones enable us to see colours. It might be that enhancing mitochondrial efficiency helps the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) cells in the cones such that eyesight is restored.
In support of this assumption stand the findings of previous research revealing that daily exposure to deep red light for a two-week period can improve colour vision by as much as 40 percent.
In the current study, the researchers recruited participants between the ages of 34 and 70 and asked them to stare at deep red light of a wavelength of 670 nanometres for three minutes. The researchers asked that the treatment is undertaken in the morning since, previous research has suggested that this is when mitochondrial function is most effective. The researchers had found that exposure to deep red light in the afternoon hours offered no benefits.
After testing each participant's eyesight three hours later, they found colour vision to be significatly enhanced.
Follow-up tests indicated that the benefits were sustained for a full week.
Glen Jeffery, one the study's authors, said in a statement:
"One single exposure to long wave deep red light in the morning can significantly improve declining vision, which is a major health and wellbeing issue, affecting millions of people globally. In the near future, a once a week three-minute exposure to deep red light could be done while making a coffee, or on the commute listening to a podcast, and such a simple addition could transform eye care and vision around the world."
[Based on reporting by: IFL science]
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