Bright Light Therapy for OSA

Last updated: January 7, 2026
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Depression

Sleep Apnea Syndromes

Treatment

s-BLT

BLT

Clinical Study ID

NCT05917119
F4531-R
  • Ages 40-65
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Persistent daytime symptoms of sleepiness in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) are associated with adverse long term medical and functional outcomes. Supplementary exposure to bright light has beneficial effects on sleep quality and daytime vigilance in healthy individuals and it has been increasingly applied in a variety of sleep and neuropsychiatric conditions. This study will explore the role of Bright Light Therapy (BLT), a well-established non-pharmacological intervention for circadian disturbances, for the treatment of residual daytime symptoms of OSA which do not respond to CPAP. BLT will be delivered via therapy glasses in a cross-over design, where each participant will be exposed to active treatment and sham treatment (4 weeks in each arm) in a randomized order. The hypothesis is that participants will demonstrate improvements in the variables of interest during the four-week active treatment portion of the eight-week crossover study, compared to the four-week sham treatment portion.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Documented diagnosis of OSA

  • Currently on CPAP or BiPAP for at least 3 months

  • with documented adherence (defined as wearing CPAP/BiPAP for >6h/night on atleast 75% of nights), and adequate control of sleep apnea, as indicated by anAHI of 10 or less when on CPAP

  • Excessive residual daytime sleepiness (Epworth score > 10)

  • If taking alertness promoting medication, the investigators will require that theyare on a stable dose for at least one month prior to entering the study and thatthey refrain from dose changes while participating in the study

  • If already prescribed BLT, subjects must not have used it for at least one monthprior to participating

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Shift work

  • Travel across time zones in the past month

  • Narcolepsy

  • Regular hypnotics use

  • Decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF)

  • Primary central sleep apnea, needing O2 therapy via nasal cannula

  • Poorly controlled diabetes (HgA1c>8%)

  • Active substance use disorder

  • Dementia

  • Untreated bipolar disorder

  • the investigators will consider individuals with a diagnosis of bipolardisorder who are currently in treatment and stable

  • Macular degeneration, recent lasik surgery (within 3 months)

  • Legally blind

  • Taking medication that will cause photosensitivity to blue-green light spectrumwavelength

  • Already using bright light therapy

Study Design

Total Participants: 60
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: s-BLT
Phase:
Study Start date:
October 26, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2027

Study Description

Persistent daytime symptoms of sleepiness in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) are associated with adverse long term medical and functional outcomes. Supplementary exposure to bright light has beneficial effects on sleep quality and daytime vigilance in healthy individuals and it has been increasingly applied in a variety of sleep and neuropsychiatric conditions. This study will explore the role of Bright Light Therapy (BLT), a well-established non-pharmacological intervention for circadian disturbances, for the treatment of residual daytime symptoms of OSA which do not respond to CPAP. BLT will be delivered via therapy glasses in a cross-over design, where each participant will be exposed to active treatment and sham treatment (4 weeks in each arm) in a randomized order. The hypothesis is that participants will demonstrate improvements in the variables of interest during the four-week active treatment portion of the eight-week crossover study, compared to the four-week sham treatment portion.

Connect with a study center

  • VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15240
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

    Pittsburgh 5206379, Pennsylvania 6254927 15240
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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