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SMARTPHONES-BLUE-LIGHT-BLINDNESS
Blue light from smartphones could accelerate blindness
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Blue light from digital devices
like smartphones could accelerate blindness, researchers found.
According to a research by the University of Toledo in the U.S., exposure
to blue light continuously might cause poisonous molecules to be generated in
the eye’s light-sensitive cells and lead to macular degeneration.
As one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S., macular
degeneration does not lead to total blindness, but can make daily activities
difficult.
“It’s no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye’s
retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to
therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop,”
said Dr Ajith Karunarathne, an assistant professor in the university’s
department of chemistry and biochemistry.
Macular degeneration is caused by the death of photoreceptors, a kind of
light-sensitive cells. Photoreceptor cells need molecules called retinal to
sense light and trigger signalling to the brain, enabling us to see.
“If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells
as the signalling molecule on the membrane dissolves,” said Kasun Ratnayake,
a PhD student at the University of Toledo who was involved in the study.
“Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they’re dead,
they’re dead for good,” Ratnayake added.
To protect eyes from blue light, researchers advise people to wear
sunglasses which filter both UV and blue light outside and avoid using
smartphones or tablets in the dark.
BSS/Xinhua/MSY/1141 hrs