Optometric Light Therapy

Optometric Light Therapy

Optometric Light Therapy can benefit patients with:

  • Chronic Headaches and/or Migraines
  • Dizziness
  • Light Sensitivity
  • Concussion or Brain Injury
  • Amblyopia or Strabismus
  • Stress or Emotional Fatigue
  • Difficulty Going to Sleep or Staying Asleep


Optometric Light Therapy, also known as syntonics, is a treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of light, using a light source and colored filters, to balance the body’s autonomic nervous system, aiding the treatment of visual dysfunctions at their source. Not all of the nerves in the back of the eye function for vision. Some nerves affect the electrical, chemical and hormonal balances which impact body functions. By administering this therapy, the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and relax) systems can be brought back into balance and improve the patient’s functional visual field.

​​​​​​​During the treatment you will be given an Optometric Light Therapy kit to use at home: 3-5x a week, for up to 20 minutes a day. This is an at home program that relies on your consistent engagement to be effective.

Optometric Light Therapy is typically prescribed for 4-6 months, dependent upon your progress and your body’s response to the treatment. Your doctor will oversee and modify your treatment according to your progress.

Should scheduling allow, the visits with your Specialty Eyecare Group doctor and your Mind’s Eye Therapist can be completed on the same day. Otherwise, the visit with the Specialty Eyecare Group doctor needs to be completed within one week of the Functional Visual Field testing.

What is a Functional Visual Field?

Patients who have a limited visual functional field may experience slow reading, difficulty with reading, struggles with comprehension, eye strain, and decreased peripheral awareness. A functional visual field relates to the amount of visual information the brain is processing at one time. It can be used to assess the autonomic nervous system which keeps the balance between sympathetic (flight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and relax) systems in the body. The autonomic system is integral to vision (eye teaming, eye focusing, eye tracking). We perform specialized testing to measure and graph the functional visual field. Then, the color filters used in Optometric Light Therapy are prescribed in a way to increase your functional visual field. This allows the brain to intake and process more visual information in order to bring about balance and reduce symptoms.

Is Light Therapy New?

Light therapy (Phototherapy) was first documented by the Greeks. In the medical field, it has been used to treat many conditions including jaundiced newborns and, as we know in the Pacific Northwest, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Dr. Spitler, who had an optometric and medical degree began researching and using Light Therapy in 1909. Dr. Spitler called his therapy Syntonics based on the word syntony, which means to bring balance. Since 1909, researchers and clinicians have been discovering and adapting new and better ways to treat patients using light therapy.

What symptoms does Optometric Light Therapy treat?

Our program can treat a variety of symptoms. Some of these include light sensitivity, eyestrain, fatigue, headaches, decreased visual function, symptoms related to traumatic brain injury, mental or emotional stress.

How do I know if I am a good candidate for Optometric Light Therapy?

Based on your diagnostic exam, specialized testing, and evidence of symptoms, our doctors can help decide if light therapy may be right for you. Many patients benefit from Optometric Light Therapy before or in conjunction with Vision Therapy. There is no age limitation to doing light therapy. As long as the patient can sit and look at the light for an extended period of time (5-20 minutes) they are good candidates.

Is Optometric Light Therapy an in-office procedure?

The testing to determine treatment with Optometric Light Therapy is done in the office but the treatment of Optometric Light Therapy can be done from the comfort of your own home! After our doctors recommend you for this therapy, you meet with one of our therapists to complete baseline testing. Our testing measures your functional visual fields along with other measurements needed to prescribe you the proper filters. Our therapist will instruct you how to do the treatment and give you tips and tricks to help you be successful.

What do I feel during Optometric Light Therapy?

Optometric Light Therapy is done in a dark room with you looking into a color filtered light. It is peaceful, comfortable, and calming when you are doing the therapy. There is no pain or irritation experienced. Some patients chose to listen to music or a podcast during therapy (ask your therapist if this is ok for you). Over time, many patients start to observe some resolution of their symptoms. This is different for everyone and can be varied based upon severity. In many cases, the functional visual field test and assessment by your doctor will yield improvements before you start to experience symptomatic relief.

How long does the Optometric Light Therapy program last?

Most patients do Optometric Light Therapy for 5-20 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week for several months. Following this, most patients are able to graduate from therapy completely and may never have to do therapy again. Others choose to return to light therapy at a later date, as a boost, to help realign and bring their visual system back into balance.