A quick look at your screen time will show just how much time you spend staring at screens. We all do it, and the amount of time we spend looking at screens is more now than ever before. Whether at school, work, or for personal entertainment, technology has integrated into nearly every aspect of our daily lives. The benefits, however, come at a cost. For example, do your eyes ever feel exhausted after prolonged screen usage? Mine sure do. Though the virtual world brings along many advantages, it also exposes us to blue light which can harm our vision.
Blue light, a form of radiation characterized by wavelengths ranging from 450 to 495 nanometers (nm), is used for our device screens to increase clarity, sharpness, and brighten what we see. Although most of us are aware that technology can pose risks to vision, the underlying mechanism and the associated long-term risks are still not fully understood. Recently, a study conducted at the Catholic University of Korea examined the causes of blue light induced eye damage, caused by retinal degeneration. By exposing albino rats to blue light, they found that alpha-crystallin A (CRYAA), a structural protein located in the lens of the eye that has been shown to be important for retinal health and regeneration, was significantly downregulated. This means that when eyes are exposed to high levels of blue light, they become less able to repair themselves.
So, how do we use this information? Should we abandon all of our technology, curse the screen, and go live in the woods? No, probably not. But knowing the mechanisms of blue light retinal degradation can guide us in finding a solution, which could come from the tech companies manufacturing our devices, to ophthalmologists and other eye doctors, or even steps we ourselves can take. Dr. Diane Duguay, an optometrist at the Vision Plus clinic in Moncton New-Brunswick, reported the short-term effects of blue light exposure: “The increase in screen use, especially before bedtime, has been linked to poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration, which can lead to a range of health problems, including mood disturbances, reduced cognitive function, and overall fatigue.” Hearing this perspective from a professional in the field highlights the growing importance of this topic. Understanding the mechanism causing retinal degeneration will be helpful for the development and implementation of treatments, as well as the creation of more effective protective measures against blue light radiation. As awareness on the topic spreads, it is essential that people understand the potential long-term risks to their vision.
Brooke MacLellan, a fourth-year honours in psychology student at Mt. A, has taken the lead with respect to her eye health, choosing to invest in blue light reducing lenses for her glasses. “I find that these glasses help me do work on my computer for longer periods at a time without my eyes feeling as tired. I would absolutely recommend these to other students,” said MacLellan.
Overall, the identification of the mechanism behind blue light induced retinal degeneration will be useful for future research. Until advanced preventative methods and treatments are developed, there is high hope that bringing awareness to the topic will convince people to invest in blue light glasses, or other products of the sort, and join fellow student Brooke MacLellan in the growing trend of taking proactive actions to limit the effects of blue light radiation.
To learn more about this research, check out: Oh, S., Kim, C., Park, Y.-H. 2024. Decrease of alpha-crystallin A by miR-325-3p in retinal cells under blue light exposure. Molecules and Cells. 47(8):100091. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3890385/v1
