What Does Light Therapy Do?

Light therapy is a form of treatment that uses light to help treat various conditions. It’s been used for decades, and there are several different ways to administer it. Read on as an Annapolis, MD vision therapy optometrist discusses light therapy -what it is, how it works, and the different types of light therapy devices available today.

What Is Light Therapy?

Light therapy, which is also known as phototherapy, is used to treat a wide range of conditions and is available in many convenient forms.

Light therapy is a type of phototherapy that uses light rays to treat certain medical conditions. It uses devices that emit near-infrared wavelengths (NIR) that simulate natural sun rays.

The different kinds of light therapy devices include the following:

Lightboxes
Light visors
Lamps

With light therapy, you sit in front of an intense light that emits near-infrared wavelengths. The increased exposure to natural sunlight helps regulate your body’s internal clock and restore normal sleep patterns while also improving your mood and energy levels.

The treatment time can vary depending on the type of device and condition being treated, but most treatments last between 15 minutes and one hour per day.

Treatment Uses for Light Therapy

Light therapy can be used to manage a variety of conditions, including seasonal affective disorder, eye strain, and visual stress. It is also used for concussion treatment.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Light therapy is a very effective way to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is one of the most common forms of depression. SAD occurs when there are fewer hours of sunlight during the winter months, and it can be treated by increasing the amount of light you get each day.

Increasing Focus and Decreasing Fatigue

The effects of light therapy help increase levels of serotonin (the “feel-good” hormone) and melatonin (the “sleep” hormone), while also decreasing cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone.

Clinical studies have shown that these effects can improve focus, decrease fatigue, and improve sleep quality at night.

Relief from Concussion Symptoms

Light therapy can also be used to treat symptoms of concussions. Concussions are common, and they can be debilitating. They often cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Light therapy has been shown to help relieve these symptoms.

Overall, light therapy is a safe and effective treatment, and it doesn’t require any medication or produce side effects. If you have more questions or wish to schedule a consultation, please feel free to call our Annapolis, MD vision therapy optometrist office anytime!