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NCT Number: NCT06310161

Light Therapy in End Stage Kidney Disease

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.

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Key information

Conditions

End Stage Renal Disease Chronic Disease Disease Attributes Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Kidney Diseases Kidney Failure, Chronic Male Urogenital Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Renal Insufficiency Renal Insufficiency, Chronic Urogenital Diseases Urologic Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

About this study

In a single site, 2-arm (Bright Light Therapy group; Dim Light Group), parallel, randomized controlled trial we will enroll 60 subjects (n=30 per group) to assess the effects of Bright Light Therapy compared to Dim Light Therapy in subjects with end stage kidney disease who are receiving hemodialysis to treat fatigue.

  • To compare the effects of bright light therapy to dim light therapy on fatigue severity.
  • To explore the effects of bright light therapy to dim light therapy on salivary cortisol.
  • To compare the effects of bright light therapy to dim light therapy on insomnia, depression and quality of life.
  • To test the effects on bright light therapy to dim light therapy on physical activity levels.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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 criteria

  • Eye disorders: cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disorders (e.g. macular degeneration)
  • Participants with photosensitivity (e.g. epilepsy)
  • Hospitalized or acutely ill

Treatment and study plan

Bright light

Device

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.

Other names: Re-Timer

Dim Light

Device

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.

Other names: Re-Timer

Primary outcomes

  1. Fatigue Severity Scale

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Measures how bad or severe a person's fatigue is. Score range from 9-63; higher scores indicate increased fatigue.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Bright Light Therapy to Treat Fatigue in End Stage Kidney Disease

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 15, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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