The Blue Light Threat to Your Vision and Health

There are very simple measure the public can take to protect the eyes, vision, and physiological health:
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It is encouraging to see "Blue Light" being recognized by the Scientific Community, and while public awareness is growing, unfortunately it is happening too slowly. As is the case with many emerging issues, there are varying degrees of understanding, but uneducated opinion about the effect of blue light is confusing the issue and the population.

The impact of naturally occurring Blue Light has been overlooked for many years; however with increased exposure to artificial Blue Light from high energy efficient light sources including fluorescent lighting and LED screens (e.g. computer screens, tablets, smart-phones and televisions), medical scientists are recognizing Blue Light can have profoundly negative effects on human health.

For the visual system, there is no redeeming value to Blue Light as it damages the eye and the retina through photo-oxidation and accelerates macular degeneration". The short term implications on vision may include digital eye strain, while long term chronic exposure can impact central vision.

While unfiltered Blue Light can have detrimental consequences for vision, it also affects the Retino-Hypothalamic tract which regulates human physiological (i.e. circadian, endocrine and neurobehavioral) functions. Very few of us understand that we need to protect against intense Blue Light during the daytime and any Blue Light during evening hours. The ability of night time Blue Light to disrupt our circadian pattern can lead directly to sleep deprivation and indirectly it may be related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, diabetes, and obesity.

There are very simple measure the public can take to protect the eyes, vision, and physiological health:

• Always wear a polarized blue light filtering lens containing Melanin and Ocular Lens Pigment when outside to protect from Natural Blue Light.

• Wear blue light filtering glasses containing Melanin and Ocular Lens Pigment during the day to reduce Photo-stress.

• If possible have no artificial blue light exposure at least two hours before the start of normal sleep.

• Wear advanced blue light filtering glasses at night containing Melanin and Ocular Lens Pigment to inhibit Melatonin suppression.

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