CLINICAL

  optical

Out of the Blue

Educate patients about high-energy blue light and its effects.

DAVE ZIEGLER, O.D.

In recent years, we’ve seen increasing evidence of the harmful effects of high-energy blue light. As a result, it’s important that you provide patient education about this eye health issue.

Define blue light.

The health risks of high-energy blue light are such a new area of interest. Thus, most patients are unaware of what they should be doing to protect themselves.

Start by comparing the dangers of blue light to ultraviolet radiation, which most are familiar with. You might say, “It is well-understood that excessive ultraviolet, or UV, radiation is harmful to your skin and your eyes. Recently, we have also learned that high-energy blue light, which is very similar to high-energy UV light, is also a health risk.”

While all visible light has energy, the shorter blue wavelengths have the most. Explain that while the ocular media filters out most of the harmful wavelengths so that the retina is exposed almost exclusively to the visible spectrum, the high-energy blue light resides within that visible spectrum as well.

Also, discuss the situations in which patients come in contact with blue light. Explain that energy-efficient LED and compact fluorescent light have a much higher degree of blue light than traditional lights. Add that computer monitors, digital tablets and smart phones emit much more high-energy blue light than other wavelengths.

Discuss its impact on AMD.

Blue light conversations provide you, the practitioner, with a perfect opportunity to have an impactful discussion about AMD with patients who may be at risk.

Compare the dangers of blue light to UV radiation.

Many studies have shown that blue light can cause photochemical damage, leading to the death of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and photoreceptors. This slow process has been implicated in the development of AMD. Macular pigment efficiently filters out short-wavelength radiation before it reaches the photoreceptors and RPE but becomes less effective since it decreases as we age.

Explain how to limit its effects.

Despite its harmful effects, our patients need some blue light to help modulate melatonin production in our bodies, which regulates our sleeping patterns, thus enhancing attention levels, making us feel more awake and enhancing our moods.

To protect the eye from harmful blue light without losing its benefits, suggest lens coatings to patients. Explain that these coatings can selectively block roughly a quarter of the high-energy blue light, allowing color transmission and transparency while providing clarity of vision, which makes them practical for everyday use.

With at-risk AMD patients, explain that coatings screen some parts of this spectrum to potentially reduce morbidity — this is similar to recommending vitamins to patients who show early signs of RPE changes.

Keep in mind: Further data is needed to conclusively link high-energy blue light to AMD and other retinal diseases, so be sure to tell at-risk patients that exposure to blue light is only one potential risk factor for AMD.

A lesson learned

Despite the need for further data, we have strong indications that reducing blue light exposure may indeed be beneficial, and reducing our patients’ blue light exposure has no negative impact.

By educating patients about blue light, they’ll gain knowledge on its effect on their vision and ocular health. OM

DR. ZIEGLER IS A SENIOR PARTNER IN A GROUP PRIVATE PRACTICE IN MILWAUKEE, WISC., AND A FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPTOMETRY. E-MAIL HIM AT DAVEAZIEGLER@GMAIL.COM, OR SEND COMMENTS TO OPTOMETRICMANAGEMENT@GMAIL.COM.