Blue Light and UV - Eye Health

Think about your eyes, the dangers of Blue Light and UV

Light plays an essential role in everyday life

Light is fundamental for vision. It is needed for perception of the surrounding world: shapes, details and colours.

Good Blue light (blue-turquoise part) is essential for overall well-being. It is necessary for regulation of the sleep/wake cycles, mood and cognitive performances.

But light can also be the cause of premature eye ageing

UV Rays

UV rays are as dangerous to our eyes as they are to our skin. The resulting damage accumulates over a lifetime, accelerating eye ageing and the development of cataracts.

Blue-Violet Light

Harmful blue-violet light was recently identified as being harmful to retinal cells. Causing long-term damage to our eyes, it can accelerate the onset of age related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Blue-violet light increases the risk of retinal damage.

Cumulative exposure to blue-violet light has a double effect:

  • It increases the production of lipofuscin, a metabolic waste material that accumulates in retinal cells with age. It is commonly known as an "age marker" that may be found in other organs
  • It activates lipufuscin phototoxic components, causing retinal cell death. The accumulation of lipofuscin in retinal cells can contribute to the deposition of drusens in AMD

Preventing over-exposure of blue-violet light may decrease the death of retinal cells

UV and Blue-Violet light is present everywhere

Outdoors: Whatever the weather UV and blue-violet light is present (sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc.)

Indoors: Wherever the place blue-violet light is transmitted by low energy light bulbs and most modern digital devices, including tablets, smartphones and computers.