Declining eyesight improved by looking at deep red light

Date:
June 29, 2020
Source:
University College London
Summary:
Staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can
significantly improve declining eyesight, finds a new study,
the first of its kind in humans.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can significantly
improve declining eyesight, finds a new UCL-led study, the first of its
kind in humans.


========================================================================== Scientists believe the discovery, published in the Journals of
Gerontology, could signal the dawn of new affordable home-based eye
therapies, helping the millions of people globally with naturally
declining vision.

In the UK there are currently around 12 million people aged over 65:
in 50 years this will increase to around 20 million and all will have
some degree of visual decline because of retinal ageing.

Lead author, Professor Glen Jeffery (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) said:
"As you age your visual system declines significantly, particularly once
over 40.

"Your retinal sensitivity and your colour vision are both gradually
undermined, and with an ageing population, this is an increasingly
important issue.

"To try to stem or reverse this decline, we sought to reboot the retina's ageing cells with short bursts of longwave light." In humans around 40 years-old, cells in the eye's retina begin to age, and the pace of this
ageing is caused, in part, when the cell's mitochondria, whose role is
to produce energy (known as ATP) and boost cell function, also start
to decline.



========================================================================== Mitochondrial density is greatest in the retina's photoreceptor cells,
which have high energy demands. As a result, the retina ages faster than
other organs, with a 70% ATP reduction over life, causing a significant
decline in photoreceptor function as they lack the energy to perform
their normal role.

Researchers built on their previous findings in mice, bumblebees and
fruit flies, which all found significant improvements in the function of
the retina's photoreceptors when their eyes were exposed to 670 nanometre
(long wavelength) deep red light.

"Mitochondria have specific light absorbance characteristics influencing
their performance: longer wavelengths spanning 650 to 1000nm are absorbed
and improve mitochondrial performance to increase energy production,"
said Professor Jeffery.

The retina's photoreceptor population is formed of cones, which mediate
colour vision and rods, which provide peripheral vision and adapt vision
in low/dim light.

For the study, 24 people (12 male, 12 female), aged between 28 and 72,
who had no ocular disease, were recruited. All participants' eyes were
tested for the sensitivity of their rods and cones at the start of the
study. Rod sensitivity was measured in dark adapted eyes (with pupils
dilated) by asking participants to detect dim light signals in the dark,
and cone function was tested by subjects identifying coloured letters
that had very low contrast and appeared increasingly blurred, a process
called colour contrast.



==========================================================================
All participants were then given a small LED torch to take home and
were asked to look into its deep red 670nm light beam for three minutes
a day for two weeks. They were then re-tested for their rod and cone sensitivity Results Researchers found the 670nm light had no impact in
younger individuals, but in those around 40 years and over, significant improvements were obtained.

Cone colour contrast sensitivity (the ability to detect colours) improved
by up to 20% in some people aged around 40 and over. Improvements were
more significant in the blue part of the colour spectrum that is more vulnerable in ageing.

Rod sensitivity (the ability to see in low light) also improved
significantly in those aged around 40 and over, though less than colour contrast.

Professor Jeffery said: "Our study shows that it is possible to
significantly improve vision that has declined in aged individuals using
simple brief exposures to light wavelengths that recharge the energy
system that has declined in the retina cells, rather like re-charging
a battery.

"The technology is simple and very safe, using a deep red light of a
specific wavelength, that is absorbed by mitochondria in the retina that
supply energy for cellular function.

"Our devices cost about -L-12 to make, so the technology is highly
accessible to members of the public."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_College_London. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Glen Jeffery, Magella Neveu, Victor Chong, Chris Hogg, Sobha
Sivaprasad,
Manjot Grewal, Harpreet Shinhmar. Optically improved mitochondrial
function redeems aged human visual decline. The Journals of
Gerontology: Series A, 2020; DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa155 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200629120241.htm

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