Light Therapy in End Stage Kidney Disease
Bright Light Therapy to Treat Fatigue in End Stage Kidney Disease
University of Pennsylvania
60 participants
Feb 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to test light therapy in patients with end stage kidney disease who are receiving hemodialysis. The main aim is to determine if light therapy decreases fatigue severity. Participants will receive light therapy using special glasses for one hour during the dialysis sessions for four weeks of treatment.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- Signed informed consent prior to initiation of any study mandated procedure
- Male and female participants ≥ 18 years of age
- Diagnosis end stage kidney disease with hemodialysis 3 times/week for at least 1 month
- Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) \> 9 at enrollment
- Home refrigerator for salivary cortisol storage
Exclusion Criteria3
- Eye disorders: cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disorders (e.g. macular degeneration)
- Participants with photosensitivity (e.g. epilepsy)
- Hospitalized or acutely ill
Interventions
Bright light treatment will consist of using the Re-timer device 3 times per week during dialysis sessions for 4 weeks. The Re-timer is worn like a pair of glasses and contains light emitting diodes mounted on the lower portion of the frame. The Re-timer emits blue-green 500 nm light with an intensity of \~500 lux lm/m2. Participants will be instructed to use the device for 60 minutes at the beginning of each dialysis session.
Dim light treatment will use non-light emitting glasses that look identical to Re-Timer for 4 weeks at each dialysis session following baseline assessments. Participants will use the device for 60 minutes at the beginning of their dialysis session.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT06310161