You may have heard that fluorescent lighting can be bad for our eyes, but did you know why? Studies have shown that blue-violet light can be damaging to the retina, and therefor has the potential to cause Macular Degeneration (AMD), which is a disease of the eye that causes vision loss centrally. So what does this have to do with fluorescent lighting? Higher amounts of blue light are emitted with the use of fluorescent lights, but that’s not the only source. Also, through the use of LEDs which are found in electronic devices including computer monitors, TV’s, and personal devices like tablets and smart phones. So what can we do? Lens coatings can block out a large portion of the harmful blue light, which can reduce the risk of AMD. If you spend large amounts of time in fluorescent lighting or using computers/tablets, ask your optometrist about the protective coatings!

Nicholas Catchuk
www.iris.ca