Home › Pain After Surgery › NCT07218289
Green Light for Post-Operative Wellness
Green Light Therapy to Reduce Pain and Promote Wellness After Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Adult Post-Operative Patients
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>/= 18 years * Planned to undergo laparoscopic or robotic surgery at UPMC Shadyside Hospital * Anticipated post-operative length of stay \>/= 48 hours * Able to speak and read English fluently, with the capacity to provide informed consent and complete the associated surveys independently Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * History of significant ocular issues/dysfunction (†‡ ) (e.g., glaucoma, ocular trauma, macular degeneration, cataracts) that would interfere with the ocular mechanism of action * History of significant neurological disease (‡) (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurodegenerative disease) that would compromise the reliability of pain screening and/or interfere with the central mechanism of action * History of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, which could increase the risk of an adverse reaction to light exposure (i.e., acute mania) * History of splenectomy, which would interfere with the mechanism of action * Ocular issues corrected with contact lenses or spectacle corrective eyeglasses will NOT be considered a criterion for exclusion ‡Unclear cases will be at the discretion of the PI
About the study
This is an unblinded, parallel group randomized controlled trial to evaluate bright green light as an adjunct therapy after surgery at UPMC Shadyside. The primary outcome measure will be pain intensity with secondary outcome measures including opioid requirements, sleep quality, mood, and overall post-operative recovery. Specific aims/hypotheses for this study are as follows:
Aim 1: To assess bright green light therapy's potential as a complementary post-operative analgesic strategy in patients recovering from surgery Hypothesis 1: Participants exposed to bright green light, in comparison to dim white (ambient) light, will have improved postoperative pain scores and lower opioid use.
Aim 2: To examine the impact of bright green light therapy on patient-centered measures of post-operative recovery that may be related to improved circadian function.
Hypothesis 2: Participants exposed to bright green light, in comparison to dim white (ambient) light, will have improved quality of post-operative recovery, enhanced sleep, and reduced anxiety and depression.
What is being tested
- Bright Green Light Therapy (device)
- Dim White Light Therapy (device)
Sponsor: Rebecca E Kotcher, MD · Participants: 60 · Started: Jan 14, 2026
Contact the study team
- Amy Monroe, MPH, MBA · Phone: 412-623-6382
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07218289
Locations in the U.S.
| Pennsylvania | UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 29, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.