Home › Fibromyalgia › NCT07825792
Light Bulb Stimuli to Reduce Chronic Pain
Chromatic Retinal Stimulation to Reduce Chronic Pain and Pain Sensitivity Using Light Bulbs: A Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults ≥ 18 years of age. * Individuals who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or suffer from chronic widespread pain and fatigue. * An average pain severity ≥4 on the 0-10 NRS over the month prior to enrollment. * Pain symptoms present for 3 months or longer. * Pain must be present in 4 out of 5 body regions. * A score of ≥7 on the Widespread pain index (WPI) and ≥5 on the symptom severity scale (SSS), or 4-6 on the WPI and ≥9 on the SSS in the 2016 Fibromyalgia Questionnaire. * Willingness to adjust light levels in home environment so that the illumination (measured in lux) provided by the light bulbs is twice the ambient room illumination (also measured in lux). * Willingness to use study lightbulbs for 2 consecutive hours a day for 7 consecutive days according to study specifications for both conditions (total of 14 days using lightbulbs) * Alert and oriented, and able to provide informed consent * Ability to read and speak English to complete validated questionnaires. Exclusion Criteria: * Vision disorders or conditions resulting in severe vision impairment or blindness * Individuals with self-report of color blindness, uveitis or cataracts. * Prisoner Status * Pregnancy * History of photosensitivity or sensitivity to scintillating (mildly flickering) light. * History of seizure disorder. * Individuals living in households with people who have a history of seizure disorders. * Analgesic treatment plan changes anticipated in the next 3 months (surgery, analgesic medication changes, injections, pain procedures, etc.). * Other history or condition that would, in the investigator's judgment, indicate that the individual would highly likely be non-compliant with the study or unsuitable for the study
About the study
This pilot randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of chromatic (colored) light exposure for reducing pain severity and pain sensitivity in adults with fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain and fatigue. Participants will complete daily symptom surveys throughout the study and undergo patient-reported outcome assessments and quantitative sensory testing at multiple timepoints.
Participants will be randomized to receive either S-cone stimulating chromatic light or equal-energy white light for 2 hours daily over a 7-day treatment period. Following a 1-week washout, participants will cross over to the alternate condition. Outcomes will examine feasibility, changes in pain severity, pain interference, and measures of pain sensitivity. Total study duration is approximately 35 days.
What is being tested
- S-Cone Stimulating Chromatic Light (device)
- Equal-Energy White Light (device)
Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Participants: 40 · Started: Nov 9, 2026
Contact the study team
- Matthew Mauck, MD, PhD · Phone: 919-966-5136
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07825792
Locations in the U.S.
| North Carolina | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Nov 15, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.