Question:
Thank you for the below reply on scar tissue and a possible cataract
lens exchange.
This question was secondary to our primary question, which is as
follows. My mom, Rebecca (cced), had cataract surgery last February
2025 with Light Adjustable Lenses (LAL). Light Adjustable Lenses use
UV light to program the cataract lens prescription once the lens
surgery has healed. This is the company’s website –
https://rxsight.com/. Unfortunately this type of lens was not a good
recommendation for my mom due to other existing eye issues like
keratoconus and astigmatism. The LALs were “programmed”/ adjusted as
best possible, however, she has very limited blurry vision in the left
eye, as well as chronic pain, which is why we are considering a lens
exchange to either a standard lens or toric lens. Even with additional
prescription glasses, she still is not seeing consistently out of her
left eye.
So our question is this – since the Light Adjustable Lenses use UV
light to program the cataract prescription, can she use the Retyne
Mask since it emits red/near infrared light? Can the red/near infrared
light hurt the Light Adjustable Lenses that use UV light at the
opposite end of the spectrum?
Would you recommend she use the Retyne programs for her astigmatism,
keratoconus, overall eye health, etc? The left eye has also been
painful since the surgery one year ago and she is hoping this Mask may
help reduce inflammation and possibly help her other underlying eye
issues while we decide if a lens exchange is needed.
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Below is your reply to your original question
Subject: Retyne Mask and Scar Tissue caused by surgery.
The reply from Retyne Labs:
“Cataract surgery generally is not meant to be redone routinely, but
the implanted lens can sometimes be surgically exchanged if medically
necessary. It is simply more complex and carries higher risk than the
original procedure.
However, replacing the implanted lens with a different “regular” lens
is technically possible in certain cases. This is called an IOL
exchange. It is a second intraocular surgery and is more complex than
the original cataract procedure. The risks are higher than the first
surgery and can include inflammation, retinal detachment, damage to
the capsule that holds the lens, infection, or corneal swelling. The
longer the lens has been in place, the more difficult the exchange can
become because scar tissue forms around it.
Scar tissue cannot be fully reversed in modern medicine because it is
biologically different from the original tissue it replaces. When the
body heals after injury or surgery, it rapidly lays down dense,
disorganized collagen to stabilize the area rather than perfectly
regenerate the original structure. Once this healing process is
complete and the collagen matures, the scar becomes relatively
permanent, as adult human tissues have limited regenerative capacity.
The Reyne Labs eye mask is based on a principle known as
photobiomodulation (PBM). This therapy uses specific wavelengths of
red or near-infrared light to stimulate cellular activity. When these
light wavelengths penetrate tissue, they are absorbed by
mitochondria—the energy-producing structures inside cells. This can
increase ATP (cellular energy) production, improve blood flow, reduce
oxidative stress, and support anti-inflammatory pathways. Because of
these effects, infrared light therapy may assist natural healing
processes by reducing inflammation, promoting circulation, and
supporting tissue recovery at a cellular level.
However, while the Retyne Mask may enhance cellular function and
reduce inflammation, it does not reverse mature scar tissue. Scar
tissue forms when the body repairs injury by laying down dense,
disorganized collagen fibers instead of regenerating the original
tissue architecture. Once this collagen matures and remodeling
stabilizes, the structural change is largely permanent. Infrared light
may help surrounding healthy cells function better and may improve
tissue comfort or flexibility to a limited degree, but it cannot
reorganize established scar collagen back into its original, highly
specialized structure.
In summary, The Retyne’s infrared light therapy in combination with
specific frequency groups can support healing by enhancing cellular
metabolism and reducing inflammation, but it does not have the
biological capability to regenerate or fully repair mature scar
tissue.”
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Answer:
The Red and combined near-infrared light from the Retyne infrared eye mask does not affect a Light Adjustable Lens. The Light Adjustable Lens is specifically designed to respond to ultraviolet (UV) light at a narrow wavelength (around 365 nanometers), which is used by your ophthalmologist to fine-tune and “lock in” your cataract prescription. This UV light has significantly higher photon energy than red or near-infrared light. In contrast, red light (about 620–750 nanometers) and near-infrared light (about 750–1000+ nanometers) are much lower in energy and do not trigger the photochemical reaction required to alter the lens material.
The lens contains photosensitive molecules that only react when exposed to the precise UV wavelength and delivery pattern produced by the specialized medical adjustment device. Red or near-infrared light lacks both the required energy and the specific absorption characteristics needed to cause polymerization or reshaping of the lens. Infrared eye masks primarily produce gentle heat and sometimes low-level red/NIR light; they do not emit UV radiation under normal operation. Therefore, there is no known mechanism by which red or near-infrared light would reprogram or damage the Light Adjustable Lens. The only light exposure that must be strictly avoided before final lock-in is UV light, which is why patients are instructed to wear UV-protective glasses during that period.
