Light therapy glasses may brighten breast cancer recovery
NCT ID NCT04418856
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether wearing special light glasses for 30 minutes each morning could help breast cancer patients feel less tired, sleep better, and think more clearly during treatment. The trial included 260 women with early-stage breast cancer, plus a healthy comparison group. Half received bright white light and half received dim white light, both from a safe, wearable device.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- light glasses (bright white light or dim white light)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to reduce common side effects like fatigue and brain fog during breast cancer treatment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed trial, but results are not yet widely confirmed. The effect may be small or not apply to all patients. Light therapy is generally safe but may not help everyone.
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
-
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
-
260 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jun 2020
- Finished
-
Sep 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
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: 1. Breast cancer Patients: Newly diagnosed patients with stages 1 to 3 breast cancer scheduled to undergo surgery (without chemotherapy) and newly diagnosed patients with stages 1 to 3 breast cancer scheduled to undergo both surgery and chemotherapy. 2. Healthy controls: never received a cancer diagnosis Exclusion Criteria: * Stage 3B breast cancer, inflammatory or stage 4 breast cancer; under age 18; pregnancy; pre-existing anemia (Hb \<10gm/dl); history of bipolar disorder or mania (which are contra-indications for BWL treatment); and any other physical or psychological impairments (e.g., sleep disorder diagnosis) which could limit participation.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Reykjavik University
Reykjavik, 102, Iceland
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