Color Light Therapy

Certain wavelengths of light can change the function of our brain.  This occurs through a pathway from the eyes to the center of the brain responsible for regulation and control.  These brain centers control processes that we do not have to think about (hormones, breathing rate, heartbeat, etc).  We know that certain colors have a specific and predictable impact, and we can use this to help improve the balance in the brain, which will help restore balance and function in the visual system. 

Color Light Therapy (CLT) = photobiomodulation = syntonics

CLT is the branch of science dealing with the application of selected wavelengths of light (specific colors) through the eyes. The concentration of one wavelength of light has an effect on the brain through the 20% of retinal fibers which travel to the midbrain and alter the balance between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system.  We know that specific wavelengths of light have an impact on the body biochemically and functionally. For example: Full spectrum lights to treat SAD syndrome , UV lights to treat jaundice, and we see that light affects our internal sense of night and day (alertness and arousal).

CLT begins with testing a patient’s functional visual field and how their pupil responds to light. The tests done at an initial appointment are used as a baseline to see how a patient responds to CLT. For about 2-4 months, our patients continue therapy at home with a rental unit and return in-office once a month to monitor progress. Upon graduating from color light therapy, the results are stabilized allowing the patient to have the potential to progress through vision therapy faster and retain those benefits.

Color Light Therapy Research

Syntonic Phototherapy

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45638974_Syntonic_Phototherapy
Foundations of color light therapy that history, devices, testing, colors, and effects. Pupils and visual fields are used to monitor progress and outcome of color light therapy by normalizing constricted fields and reducing pupil fatigue. Also states that children with learning problems have a functional reduction in their visual fields and can benefit from color light therapy.

Changes in the Brain Activity and Visual Performance of Patients with Strabismus and Amblyopia after a Compete Cycle of Light Therapy

The Theory and Practice of Syntonic Phototherapy: A Review

http://drboulet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/syntonics-intro.pdf

Scientific models of how light affects the physiology and examples of other professionals use phototherapy.

Color Perception in the Immediate Periphery of the Visual Field

https://jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2193447
Color perception sensitivity decreases with peripheral vision, but sensitivity ranges from 50 degrees wide. Red-green sensitivity declines more steeply towards the periphery than blue-yellow.

Effect of Transcranial Low-Level Light Therapy vs Sham Therapy Among Patients With Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7490644/

Light therapy provides potential benefits for patients with moderate traumatic brain injury.
(Reduction in scores from a post concussion questionnaire).

Effects of BluTech Lenses on Melatonin, Sleep, Mood, and Neurobehavioral Performance

https://www.aaopt.org/detail/knowledge-base-article/effects-of-blutech-lenses-on-melatonin-sleep-mood-and-neurobehavioral-performance
Blue light blocking lenses help regulate melatonin, and may lessen the effects of harmful effects of light exposure at night and improve sleep.

Can red light recharge the retina?

https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/health-and-wellness/recharging-the-retina?sso=y
Red light exposure improves photoreceptor function after exposure.

Improvement in Depression Scores After 1 Hour of Light Therapy Treatment in Patients With Seasonal Affective Disorder

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5336550/
1 hour of bright light therapy has rapid improvement in of season affective disorder symptoms after a single session.

Short exposure to light treatment improves depression scores in patients with seasonal affective disorder: A brief report

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913518/
Bright light therapy exhibits the biggest change in depression scores after 20 minutes and maximum change after 40 minutes.

Bright light therapy for depression: A review of its effects on chronobiology and the autonomic nervous system

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5403163/
How bright light therapy affects the body.

Daily morning light therapy is associated with an increase in choroidal thickness in healthy young adults

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5974399/#CR28
Light can influence changes in development of the eye.

Potential for the development of light therapies in mild traumatic brain injury

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6199671/
Blue light can improve TBI symptoms by improving sleep, cognition, alertness, depression, headaches, and pain.

Illuminating Rationale and Uses for Light Therapy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2670336/
Light therapy can be used to improve sleep, dementia, and other mood disorders.

Evaluation of green light exposure on headache frequency and quality of life in migraine patients: A preliminary one-way cross-over clinical trial

Green Light Exposure Improves Pain and Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Preliminary One-Way Crossover Clinical Trial

Blue-light treatment reduces spontaneous and evoked pain in a human experimental pain model