While most people let the latest fashion trends rule their decision in eyewear for protecting their eyes from the sun, there is actually a more important factor to consider - lense color. Although summer is coming to an end, protective eyewear is needed all year round, especially in the Northeast during winter months where reflection of the sun on snow creates a powerful light source. Dr. Janet Sparrow, professor of ophthalmic science at Columbia University Medical Center in New York stated in an interview with Reuters Health that people should avoid blue-tinted lenses. Instead, the best bet for eye protection is opting for yellow or amber tinted shades.
Blue light is the most damaging portion of the light spectrum and choosing similarly colored lenses will allow this light to pass through to the eye, while an amber or yellow colored lense is best able to filter blue light. Dr. Sparrow explained, "There are compounds that accumulate in some retinal cells with age and these compounds are light-sensitive. Blue light excites these retinal cell compounds, fueling the release of harmful free radicals." Even better than colored lenses, are lenses with UV blocking capability, which are usually clear and block all colors of light in the UV spectrum.
Blue light is thought to be a major cause of age-related macular degeneration which results in deterioration of vision. Oxidation is not only increased by blue light, but also by health habits, such as dietary practices, exposure to environmental toxins, physical stress and certainly smoking. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants and taking supplements that reduce the load of free radicals in the body are also ways to limit oxidative processes that can result in age-related macular degeneration.
Posted by Dr. Jennifer Stagg on September 1, 2006 02:21 PM
