The short answer is that eye protection matters more with these devices than most people assume, and that a pair of goggles now comes in the box with every device we sell.
Why eyes are the exception
Your eye protects itself from bright light automatically. Look at something too bright and you blink, squint and turn away before you have consciously decided anything. That reflex is fast, involuntary and reliable.
It is also triggered by brightness — and that is where near-infrared becomes a problem.
A red light device at 660 nm is visible. You can see it, so the reflex works normally. But 850 nm near-infrared sits just past the end of what the human eye can detect. It is not dim. It is not weak. It is simply invisible, which means it arrives without setting off any of the warnings your eye would normally give you.
This is the single most important safety fact about any device that runs near-infrared, and it is the reason our advice on eyes is firmer than our advice on anything else.
What we actually recommend
- Never look directly into the LEDs. Not to check they are on, not briefly, not from an angle.
- Keep your eyes closed for the whole session if you are using it anywhere on the face or head. Closed eyelids are a meaningful barrier.
- Wear the goggles for all facial use — and make sure anyone else in the room who might glance over has protection too.
- Never use it on or near the eyes of infants or young children.
If a preset on any device is described as being for the eye area, read that carefully. On ours, the Face & Eyes preset is for the skin around the eye area, at the lowest output of any of the six presets, and the eyes stay closed throughout.
We changed our minds about including a pair
For a long time this page said something different, and it is worth explaining why it changed.
Our original position was that we would rather tell you plainly to buy proper eye protection than throw a token pair of plastic shells in the box — the kind that cost almost nothing, look like an inclusion, and give you the feeling of protection without much substance. We thought saying so honestly was better than a gesture.
The problem with that reasoning is what it asks of you. We were telling people that eye protection matters, that their normal instincts do not apply, and that they should wear it every time — and then leaving them to sort it out themselves. Some would. Plenty would mean to and never get around to it.
If we are firm enough about something to put it in the safety warnings, it should not be a separate purchase. So we sourced a proper pair rather than a token one, and now every device ships with goggles included. No extra cost, no add-on at checkout.
The original argument was not wrong about token eyewear. It was wrong about what to do instead.
What sort of eyewear
The pair in the box is opaque and rated for the wavelengths involved — 600–900 nm covers both red and near-infrared. If you ever need a second pair, that is the specification to look for.
Sunglasses are not a substitute: they are designed for visible light and ultraviolet, and they will not reliably block 850 nm. Tanning goggles are also not the right tool, being built for a different part of the spectrum entirely.
Who should ask a doctor first
Speak to your GP before using any light device if you are pregnant, are photosensitive, take any medication or supplement that increases light sensitivity, have active or undiagnosed skin lesions, have a history of skin cancer, or have had recent surgery on the area you intend to use it on. If you have epilepsy or any photosensitive condition, do not use a pulsed mode without medical advice.
We are not able to tell you whether a device is right for your circumstances, and neither is anyone else selling one. That is a question for a qualified health practitioner who knows your history.
The Heal For You Light is a general wellness device. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Full safety information is printed in the manual supplied with every device.