Blue light: what dangers and how to protect yourself?- Doctissimo

Blue light is more and more talked about because it is expressed by omnipresent screens on a daily basis.Are we really and more exposed to it?Does blue light represent a real danger for the eyes?Do you have to equip yourself with blue anti-light glasses when you use the screens a lot?Specialist responses.

1. What is blue light?
2. Blue light, dangerous for the eyes
3. The effectiveness of blue anti-light glasses
4. Blue anti-light glasses: who is concerned?

Part of the spectral light can be dangerous for our retina.To protect themselves from part of the light emitted by our screens, anti ""blue light"" glasses have emerged.How are they useful?

What is blue light?

Blue light is a part of the light spectrum, the wavelengths of which are between 380 and 500 nanometers.It is emitted by the sun, but also by artificial light sources: LED bulbs and screens (tablets, televisions, computers, smartphones).

The potentially dangerous blue light represents only a small part of the whole of the existing blue light: these are the blue-violet wavelengths.""The spectrum of daylight or artificial light includes colored bands.Among them, turquoise blue, light good for morale, and then blue-violet, light to which we are more and more exposed, ""explains Dr. Petra Kunze, ophthalmologist in Paris.

Indeed, the energy that reaches the retina in the case of blue-purple light is stronger than in the case of turquoise blue light.The screens in particular diffuse blue light peaks called Visible High Energy Light (or HEV).

In 2014, the French spent an average of 6 hours in front of a screen.It is estimated that a child born in 2015 will have spent at the age of 7 the equivalent of a full year, day and night, scrutinizing a screen.""In addition to that, the ozone layer no longer plays its role as a solar filter,"" recalls Dr. Kunze.

So here we are overexposed to this blue light, and that from an early age.This is not without consequences for our eyes.All the more in children below 14 years, whose crystalline of the eye does not filter as well and for whom this blue light turns out to be even more harmful.

Blue light, dangerous for the eyes

""Il a été démontré sur un modèle in vitro de dégénérescence maculaire liée à l’âge (DMLA) que la longueur d'onde la plus toxique pour les cellules rétiniennes est située autour de 415-455 nanomètres"", explique le Pr Serge Picaud, neurobiologiste et directeur Inserm à l’Institut de la Vision¹.This photootoxic area corresponds well to a blue-purple light in the Specter of the rainbow.

Scientific research has concluded that an prolonged exposure to the radiation of blue or artificial HEV light caused photochemical lesions of the retina and the lens.""Several epidemiological studies have shown that this blue light was indeed a risk factor for AMD,"" recalls Professor Serge Picaud.^2,3 L'implication de la lumière bleue dans le développement de la cataracte est également suspectée.

However, blue light can also have beneficial effects.It helps our circadian rhythms (the alternation watch/sleep) and our mood.This time, it is the turquoise blue light (around 490 nm) which allows us to re-order our rhythms during a time difference.The latter regulates the production of melatonin, our ""sleep hormone"".⁴

The effectiveness of blue anti-light glasses

""There is not really possible protection, except to put filters between light sources and our eyes,"" informs Dr. Petra Kunze.There are blue anti-light filters for screens, but not very widespread.

In France, several brands have recently offered glasses of ""selective photoprotection"", in other words glasses whose glasses have a filter treatment.Their principle?Protect the eye from toxic light wavelengths for the retina.These glasses filter blue-purple light but let the turquoise blue pass, in order to preserve the beneficial effects of the latter on the vision and regulation of the internal biological clock.These glasses have a slight reflection, obviously purple.

Quid de leur efficacité ? ""La démonstration de leur efficacité a été faite in vitro et n'est pas quantifiable pour l'homme dans l'état actuel des travaux"", indique Jean-Manuel Finot, opticien¹.""These glasses block an important part of light among the wavelengths identified as toxic to the retina.We can therefore assume that there is a real protection of retinal cells "", adds the neurobiologist Pr Serge Picaud.

How to protect baby's eyes?

Discover baby: eyes

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Blue anti-light glasses: who is concerned?

""All people exposed to this blue-purple light for more than 30 minutes a day could benefit from these blue anti-light glasses,"" recommends Dr. Kunze.Almost everyone!""In any case, if you spend the day in front of a screen and especially if you like to walk outside, it's highly recommended,"" adds the ophthalmologist.The specialist advises in addition to making cures of 3 months of food supplements for the eyes from 40 years (based on lutein, vitamin E, zinc, antioxidants...), to repair trauma photos.

""If you have family history of DMLA or cataract, it is very strongly advised to bring these blue anti-light glasses,"" said the optician Jean-Manuel Finot.Be careful however, not all glasses are created: the different existing models do not all filter the same percentage of toxic light.

The advice of our partner Opticians Krys

To equip yourself in the most adequate way, you can ask for advice from an optician of the Krys brand.Their new Krys signature glasses, manufactured in France, beyond being ultra-personalized, they have a double advantage: being treated for 100 % anti-UV protection and all offered with the anti-reflective treatment of your choice.Two possibilities: opt for classic treatment or blue anti-light.The latter is recommended for people who work mainly on computer or who regularly consult their smartphone, in order to preserve their eyes from eye fatigue.

There is no contraindication to the wearing of these blue anti-light glasses.""The only limiting factor is that these glasses prevent blue light from reaching the retina by reflecting it, which leads to a residual reflection, not aesthetic to the taste of some,"" said Jean-Manuel Finot.However, these eye protections should still make progress in the future.""We can hope for more protective glasses"", announces Professor Picaud whose team continues to work on this subject.

On the price side, it takes between 35 and 50 euros per glass for a pair of glasses filtering blue light without correction, for people under 40 having no visual problems.An additional cost by glasses will depend on your correction if you have corrective glasses.

And as another protective track?""In the future, it would also be useful that all screens have integrated filters, just like bulbs,"" said ophthalmologist Dr Petra Kunze.An effective way to protect the vision of the whole population without needing to equip themselves in addition to glasses.

Victory testimony, 29, journalist (Paris)

""I am 29 years old, including 21-22 years old spent with glasses.I decided to buy glasses with blue anti-light glasses two years ago after seeing reports and researching the dangers of blue light.I spend almost 10 hours a day on my computer, not to mention the time spent on my smartphone.In all, I paid about 40 euros more per glass but I do not regret this purchase!My visual comfort is unchanged.My interlocutors only see certain lights reflected in purple on my glasses but as with a classic anti -reflective.On the other hand, since I use them, I have much less headache and eyes less dry than before.""

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