Can this pair of $274 glasses help you beat jetlag?

Frequent flyers and business travellers are ever on the lookout for ways to avoid jetlag, and two South Australian doctors think they have the answer: the Re-Timer, a pair of green-light goggles that they say "resets your body clock".

“Our extensive research studies have shown that green light is one of the most effective wavelengths for advancing or delaying the body clock, and to date is the only wearable device using green light," claims Adelaide-based sleep researcher Professor Leon Lack, the device's inventor.

"Many people do not receive the daily bright light they need to maintain a well-timed body clock and natural energy levels and indoor lighting is usually not sufficient to set our body clocks on the right time," Lack suggests.

If you want to fall asleep earlier, Lack recommends wearing his Re-Timer for fifty minutes shortly after you wake up. To fall asleep later, he says you should wear it for fifty minutes before bed.

"Typically, 3 – 4 days of use is required to realise the benefits of this light device," Lack cites, giving a trip from the east coast of Australia to Europe as an example.

Before leaving, you'd start to adjust your body clock: fifty-minute sessions at 9.30pm on Monday, 10.30pm on Tuesday, and 11.30pm on Wednesday. Once you arrive on Thursday, a 9.30pm session should get you in the zone. 

A jetlag calculator is available to help you with the time zone changes.

Professor Lack says, “I’m a strong advocate for light to treat mistimed body clocks because it is safer and in many cases more effective than drug alternatives”.

If you don't have time to take the usual Australian Business Traveller advice of natural light, some brisk exercise and sensible use of caffeine -- and the rest of our seven standard tips for avoiding jetlag -- these new glasses could be the answer.

Re-Timer is available online for $274, including worldwide delivery.

What do you reckon: would you use the Re-Timer? Have you recently discovered a new trick for beating jetlag? Sound off in a comment below!

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John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.