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Comment by toomuchtodo | Hacker News Reader

https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/75/9/e49/...

TLDR Brief 3 minute daily exposures to 670 nm (energies at the cornea were approximately 40 mW/cm2) for 2 weeks can significantly improve retinal function in those over approximately 40 years of age

Edit: 670 nm is deep red light

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I wonder about presbyopia though. Would imagine that’s the holy grail of age-related vision decay? anyone knows of any promising research in this area?

I used reading glasses for years.

Then I started drinking a pint of kombucha, most days. I got my accommodation back, no more reading glasses! Other improvements too, e.g. blood pressure, skin elasticity.

I can't think of anything else to attribute the improvement to. I would never have guessed anything would help. (No guarantees, but would welcome other reports, positive or negative.) This is one of those "anecdotal" things where you might as well, because there is only potential upside, plus tasty hydration, no down. Like getting your Tdap booster (free at the drug store), because why not?

A pint of kombucha runs US$2.50-$4 at the supermarket. But I brew mine for <$0.20.

Ok, that sounds kind of whacky but very intriguing. Can I ask what age you are and if you measured your current accommodation power (like: how many diopters can you accommodate now)?

Old enough to notice skin elasticity. My reading glasses were +1.5. I still use them for extra-fine print, so there are limits.

Is your brew carbonated? The stuff at the grocery store says it's naturally carbonated but I have no idea how it all works

Kombucha includes also yeast which metabolizes sugars and releases CO2 so it has some natural carbonation like e.g. beer does.

I have a times added 1/2 tsp of dextrose ("corn sugar") before I tighten down the bottle lid, to boost fizz. (Beer brewing trick.)

how does one expose their eyes to light in that spectrum safely?

I do not understand the assumptions behind this question. Can you clarify what you mean?

Is a red bulb enough or do you need a 670nm laser?

For the love of all that’s dear in this world, please don’t use a laser for that.

If you’re in a DIY mood, you can easily pick LEDs around that wavelength and they would generate more than enough light to even cause damage (if close enough).

I hope this was a joke. Don’t shine lasers in your eyes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety

what assumptions? it was an honest question.

The safest way to do this is to step out in daylight when the sun is bright. Take a brief walk. You will also get a boost of Vitamin D that will cheer you up. Interestingly, in Yoga there is a pose called surya namaskar (salutation to the sun) that is supposed to be done early morning when the sun rises.

Can I assume you mean without sunglasses on? Living in FL I wear sunglasses religiously, but am out in the sun daily.

Yes, at least for sometime daily, but not in blinding sunlight that can hurt your eyes.

Very interesting. Thank you.

Red light is also just fun to be in. It has a different atmospheric mood.

I have a gaming rig with two big front fans with red LEDs. I can swear my eyesight and mood improves just by staring a few minutes on them.

Where do you find this sort of light and how do you ergonomically do this?

I'd imagine your eyelids and the sun.

I picked up a great 670nm light from here: https://redlightman.com/

200+ for a red light? These are low power LEDs, not weaponized laser diodes. If you want a "deep" red LED then go to any hydroponic/grower supply store.

https://www.amazon.ca/HIGROW-Flowering-Fruiting-Spectrum-Enh...

Of course there’s a redlightman.com, but I am a bit surprised at the cost of these things. Is there something special about these “therapy lights” that a guy with a soldering iron and a handful of cheap 670nm LEDs wouldn’t be getting? I mean, the price of these finished products compared to my perception of the component costs is rather astounding.

This is the absurd reality anyone interested in led growing faces. And the saddest part is the uneducated fall for the many led scams out there. Many will advertise as 1000watts but then when you read the fine print they will say equivalent to 1000w. Or another good one they will name the model of the light “1000w LED Light” 1000w being the model of the light not the wattage. On top of it all many of these cheap lights are being sold for much more then they are truly worth to anyone. There are some reputable sellers who actually advertise the actual wattage used by lights but then you are really paying a premium. Like you said tho the reality is if you can solder these are easy to make. And if you live in the US you are really sitting pretty because all the parts are so cheap compared to me in Canada where I have to ship every part from the US. For about $600-$800US you can make a light that retails for closer to $2k.

Here is a very informative sight which goes over how to make several different led grow light builds ranging from 2x2 foot grow tent to an led for a 5x5. https://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-...

In my bathroom I replaced the large bulb that is turned when switching on the vent with this bulb from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TDP67LR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...

I use a small hand held concave vanity mirror and reflect the overhead light into my eyes. I wiggle the mirror handle to increase the spread. This is done while brushing my teeth since my electric toothbrush has a 3 minute timer.

Ergonomic ? yes. Practical ? for me yes. Safe ? maybe given the persistence effect matches what the paper said should occur. The Oxford paper used a small handheld red LED flashlight purchased for around $10 with a paper diffuser. I didn't enjoy doing it that way and stopped after a few attempts.

This bulb emits a lot of infrared light, probably its main purpose for the intended use. In Germany it is sold together with protective goggles for your eyes. So you should be carefull about the intensity of the light you put onto your unprotected eyes. With a reasonable distance it is pobably fine.

Please don’t look into IR light without proper protective glasses. Saves you from having to visit a ophthalmologist.

https://www.piliapp.com/screen/red/ looks legit

LCD display red should be pretty close to 670nm

but just as the OP states that a monitor's blue is too weak to do harm, its red is also too weak to achieve the W/m^2 needed for therapeutic benefit

670 nm is red light, isn't it?

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