Is Red Light Therapy Safe for Your Eyes?

Whether you’re looking for ways to rejuvenate your skin, reduce facial inflammation or even find pain relief, red light therapy may be right for you. While this is a popular treatment with various health benefits, many wonder whether it’s harmful to your eyes.

Keep reading to learn more about red light therapy, including if it’s safe for your eyes, potential risks and how to use this treatment safely.

How Red Light Therapy Works

Red light therapy is a treatment method that uses low levels of red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to penetrate your skin and target your cells’ mitochondria, boosting their efficiency. Because the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, giving them additional energy allows them to carry out their functions more efficiently, resulting in cellular renewal, skin rejuvenation, boosted immunity and many other benefits, including:

• Pain relief from carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Promoting hair growth
• Promoting tissue repair
• Reducing the side effects of cancer treatments
• Treating nonmelanoma skin cancers

While red light therapy can be used on many parts of the body, like the chest, stomach, hands and legs, it’s most commonly used on the face and neck.

Is Red Light Therapy Safe for Your Eyes?

Unlike tanning booths, which expose you to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, red light therapy uses a light wavelength between 630 and 700 nanometers, which is enough to stimulate your cells’ mitochondria without causing UV-type damage. Red light therapy is generally considered safe when performed by a medical professional. However, red light therapy may harm your retinas if your treatment exceeds the recommended exposure time or if it’s too intense.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the retinas, the thin layer of tissue lining the back of your eyes, are some of the most metabolically active tissues in your body, exceeding the metabolic rate of the brain. Their main function is to convert incoming light entering the eyes into electrical signals that the brain can translate into images. But because they’re very metabolically active, red light therapy can cause them to become overstimulated and may even cause retinal damage. Other potential negative effects of this therapy include eye strain and fatigue, headaches, skin irritations and temporarily blurred vision.

How to Use Red Light Therapy Safely

When it comes to keeping your eyes safe while using red light therapy, there are some basic principles to follow. Even though at-home devices, like face masks or panels, use a lower intensity, for optimal protection, it’s best to keep your eyes closed throughout your session. This is because looking directly at red light may harm your eyes and cause temporary blurred or dimmed vision. For nearly every red light therapy session with a medical professional who uses a high-powered device, it’s essential that you wear protective red light therapy goggles.

Keeping your eyes closed while using these devices isn’t enough to block light from entering your eyes, because many treatments also combine near-infrared (NIR) light, which has a wavelength of 810 to 850 nanometers. Wavelengths at this level are strong enough to penetrate through your eyelids, making red light therapy eye protection essential.

Before using red light therapy, it’s best to talk with your doctor to determine if it’s safe for you. Certain individuals should avoid this therapy, including those with:

• Active skin cancer
• Epilepsy
• Light-sensitive eyes
• Open wounds or active infections
• Photosensitive conditions, like lupus
• Preexisting eye conditions

When you begin red light therapy at home, it’s best to read your device's directions carefully. It’s also good to consider limiting the time spent using it to five to 20 minutes per session, around three times a week.

Navigate Your Health With Confidence

No matter your reason for starting red light therapy, we hope you feel confident in using it safely to protect your eyes. Whether you want to explore our wellness care services to support your whole health or our dermatology care to find clearer skin, our expert care teams are here to help.