Your pupils reveal how light shapes sleep—and why age and sex matter
NCT ID NCT05829044
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates how the pupil's response to different light stimuli varies by sex and age in healthy people, and how that relates to sleep timing, body clock rhythms, and hormone responses. Participants wear a light-activity monitor for a week, then stay in a research room for 3 days and 2 nights for testing. The goal is to better understand non-visual light input that affects sleep and circadian rhythms.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could help tailor lighting environments to improve sleep and circadian health for different age and sex groups.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small observational study (48 participants) focused on healthy volunteers, so findings may not apply to people with sleep disorders or medical conditions.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 48 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2023
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 85 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * (i) 18-85 years old. * (ii) Habitual sleep onset 10 pm- 1 am (healthy controls only); * (iii) Habitual wake onset 5:30 am- 8:30 am (healthy controls only); * (iv) vision correctable to 20/30; * (v) stable medically. * (vi) ability to speak, understand, and read English at a high school level Exclusion Criteria: * (i) Color blind by Ishihara Color Blindness Test; * (ii) any history of eye trauma, surgery or abnormality (e.g., retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, amblyopia, macular degeneration, congenital color vision deficiencies, or any type of blindness) besides correctable vision abnormalities (e.g., with glasses); any abnormalities on clinical eye exam (e.g., neuritis, Neuromyelitis optica, treated or untreated glaucoma) such that the ophthalmologist recommends the participant not be studied; Limited cataracts (e.g., Lens Opacities Classification (LOCS) III grade \<2) will be allowed and documented during the eye exam. Eye drops that affect pupil size or contractility (e.g. mydriatics, miotics); drops to treat glaucoma (e.g., pilocarpine, brimonidine, other drops like artificial tear drops, or anti-inflammatory drops would not be exclusionary) * (iii) current or history of neurologic or psychiatric disease including autonomic function disorder or migraines; psychiatric disorder requiring medications in a first degree relative (healthy controls only); limited-duration counseling without prescription medications will not be exclusionary; (iv) current or history of circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder (healthy controls only); * (v) prescription or non-prescription drugs affecting the pupil (e.g., affecting autonomic function), sleep, melatonin (e.g., lithium, alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonists), and/or circadian rhythms (e.g., beta blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tricyclics); * (vi) Other disorders that can affect or may be affected by intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cell (ipRGC) function, including diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, seasonal affective disorder; * (vii) shift- or night-work in past three months; history of night work in preceding 3 year period * (viii) crossing more than 2 time zones in past three months; * (ix) presence of depression as assessed by a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score \>14. * (x) pregnant or less than 6 weeks post-partum or breast-feeding
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Massachusetts General Hospital
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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