CytoSleep Glasses
Broad-Spectrum Blocking of Wakefulness-Promoting Light
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Wavelengths blocked:
280-580nm
Frame material:
Acetate
Lens width:
58mm
Bridge width:
18mm
Temple length:
150mm
Weight:
30g
After-purchase support:
Indefinite
Features
Broad spectrum blocking, 280-590nm
High durability and light-weight acetate frame
Aesthetically pleasing design
Batch tested to ensure congruence with claimed wavelength blocking
Melanopsin and wakefulness
What is melanopsin?
Melanopsin is a photopigment housed in photoreceptors in the human retina that respond to visible wavelengths of light. Melanopsin plays a vital role in regulating the circadian rhythm by activating in response to certain wavelengths of light, thereby facilitating a daytime signal to the brain. Light is one of the primary regulators of our circadian rhythm, and its actions are facilitated almost exclusively through this mechanism. Melanopsin activation sends signals to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, our brain's clock, affecting the release of various hormones, including melatonin and cortisol. Wavelengths in the text of this section will be represented by the colors they correspond to.
What wavelengths activate melanopsin?
Melanopsin is activated most potently by 480nm light, which has a cyan color (between blue and green). Above and below 480nm, the potency of activation decreases. However, it only start to get truly insignificant at much longer wavelengths of light. Above 550nm green, the potency of the effect starts to significantly decrease, but blocking in this range should still improve efficacy. By 600nm orange, the intensity of light required to cause meaningful activation is so high it is practically insignificant. Red light (620-780nm) causes practically no activation even at high intensity. White light (both artificial light and outdoor light) typically contains all of these wavelengths, both the ones that promote wakefulness, peaking at 480nm, as well as wavelengths that do not significantly affect wakefulness, like 660nm, which is pure red.
Wavelength in nm on the x-axis, melanopsin activation on the y-axis.
Source "Human melanopsin forms a pigment maximally sensitive to blue light ( max 479 nm) supporting activation of Gq/11 and Gi/o signalling cascades" (2013)
The CytoSleep difference
Blue-blocking glasses are used for 2 primary purposes:
1. To reduce eye strain, especially when staring at screens for extended periods of time.
2. To reduce activation of melanopsin during the last 1-3 hours before sleep, and to increase melatonin and promote relaxation and sleep through various other pathways.
The first category usually involves partial blue-blocking, rather than (near) complete blocking, to retain some daytime signal and proper color perception.
The second category generally aims to block all blue light, but often falls short of this goal. Even if the glasses block (nearly) all blue light, they often do not block longer wavelengths of light that still activate melanopsin, especially green light. Over the past few years, glasses with red lenses have come onto the market, aimed at blocking both blue and green light; such glasses appear to be much more effective at improving sleep than those aiming to block only blue light. However, most glasses on the market in this category still do not extend far enough into the longer wavelengths that they need to block. Not only do many red-lens glasses not sufficiently block relevant longer wavelengths, but they also have small spikes in transmission at shorter wavelengths, often very close to the wavelengths that most potently activate melanopsin.
We have developed a lens that blocks virtually all light all the way up to 580nm, while letting through most light above 610nm. Not only that, our lenses have no significant spikes of transmission at shorter wavelengths. This allows for maximum efficacy, while still being able to see well. However, regular color perception is gone, a necessary trade-off for the best sleep. We ensure testing of each batch to guarantee this performance. The graphs below illustrate the performance of our lenses when compared to common competitor products. These readings were taken with a Hopoocolor OHSP350F, though we have also validated the lens performance with more specialized hardware. The common competitor transmission graph is based on a real measurement from an unnamed competitor's product.
Baseline
Baseline spectrum from common LED desk lamp 20cm from sensor
Competition
Common transmission spectrum through competitor products
CytoSleep
Transmission spectrum through CytoLED's CytoSleep glasses
As you can see, compared with competitors’ glasses, which, across all our tests, do not adequately suppress wavelengths that promote wakefulness, our glasses provide more complete blocking. As seen in the graph, transmission only starts to pick up at 580nm and is still low at 590nm. Our glasses therefore represent a significant improvement in blocking wakefulness-promoting wavelengths of light, leading to a better night's sleep.
How to use the glasses
Basic usage:
Wear these glasses during the final 1–3 hours before sleep and keep them on until lights-out. Even momentary exposure to non-red light may induce wakefulness and blunt the effectiveness of the glasses. Be mindful to wear them whenever you’re exposed to any visible light source other than pure red to remain sleep-ready.
Additional Considerations:
These glasses will prohibit the user from doing any color-sensitive work. They block a large range of the visible light spectrum, which affects both the circadian rhythm and vision. If you find the lack of color perception unpleasant, strive to wear them for at least some amount of time before sleep, even if it is only half an hour. Most people see the greatest benefit when wearing them 1.5–2.5 hours before sleep.
Disclaimer:
These glasses are not intended as a substitute for sunglasses, nor serve as eye-protection of any kind. They are purely intended for sleep-optimization
Ease into the CytoFlow...
Collaborators and customers
What do people say about us?
At CytoLED we're committed to both scientific integrity, and providing the best possible customer service. See what some of our collaborators and customers have to say about us.
Tristan Defeuillet-Vang
Model and Influencer
"I've been using the red light for a little over a year now and I just can't go without it. I've experienced palpable benefits to my exercise recovery and general wellbeing, as well as some cosmetic improvements to my skin and hair. I'd recommend it to almost everyone looking to have better health and overall wellbeing."
William Janssens
MSc Exercise Physiology
"It cannot be easier to get the benefits from red light even from a certain distance (~a meter away) ! I use it every morning - when it is not sunny - during my yoga. It's the perfect start of the day 🙂."
elly.body
Personal Trainer
"I’ve been using red light therapy for more than 7 months now and I can highly recommend it : my skin, my mood, my sleep and metabolism have increased a lot. I wanted a red light because I’m living in Paris and I was constantly in a bad mood without natural light and sun. My knee was also painful after an injury that required a surgery. I wanted a local and natural therapy to improve my joints/tissues. After a few weeks : my skin is prettier, I have a constant mood and energy all day long even without sun, and with a longer use, I can now say that my knee isn’t as painful as it was. Red light therapy is my daily self care moment and obsession!"
Angela O.
Customer
"After trying it at a friend's house, I quickly got my own CytoLED light. I really love the feeling of the light on my skin, there's a little warmth but it doesn't get too hot. One of the benefits I noticed is that it helped me relax which made it easier to fall asleep. I feel like that relaxation also helped my exercise recovery."
Matthew S.
Customer
"I did a lot of shopping around for red lights and I'm very pleased I bought the One. It's been an integral part of my health regimen for the last 2 months, not only does it make me feel great but it is easy to use and has a nice look. I couldn't find any other companies that offered the same quality therapeutic red lights for a similar price. The light exceeded my expectations, I will consider a larger device in the future to treat my whole body at once. Customer service was great, my questions about usage were answered in great depth by email."
About CytoLED
Our Mission
At CytoLED we're committed to accurate scientific information on red light therapy, even when it's not pretty. We commit to providing accurate and reliable measurements on our devices, and delivering quality writeups on the use of light therapy for various indications. Unfortunately, misleading measurements with inaccurate equipment, and outright lies about the specifications of products in this space have been the norm rather than the exception, we hope to break that trend.
Frequently Asked Questions
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