By Clare Wilson.
Eye sight fades as you get older.
EyeEm and Eko Agung Wahyudi.
An experimental treatment for fading sight involves shining a red light into the eyes for a few minutes to boost the activity of mitochondria, tiny structures that provide energy inside cells.
In the first small test of the approach in 24 people, one short exposure to the light slightly improved people's performance in tests of colour vision for several days.
In a range of cell-based and animal experiments, deep red light and near-infrared light have been shown to enhance the function of mitochondria. The performance of key structures within the mitochondria seem to be improved by these wavelengths.
Cells use a molecule called ATP, which is produced by these pumps, to make energy. The deep red light has the right wavelength to give them more energy.
