Glaucoma and Short-Wavelength Light Sensitivity (Blue Light)

Smartphone usage strongly increased in the last decade, especially before bedtime. There is growing evidence that short-wavelength light affects hormonal secretion, thermoregulation, sleep and alertness. Whether blue light filters can attenuate these negative effects is still not clear. Therefore, here, we present preliminary data of 14 male participants (21.93 ± 2.17 years), who spent three nights in the sleep laboratory, reading 90 min either on a smartphone (1) with or (2) without a blue light filter, or (3) on printed material before bedtime. Subjective sleepiness was decreased during reading on a smartphone, but no effects were present on evening objective alertness in a GO/NOGO task. Cortisol was elevated in the morning after reading on the smartphone without a filter, which resulted in a reduced cortisol awakening response. Evening melatonin and nightly vasodilation (i.e., distal-proximal skin temperature gradient) were increased after reading on printed material. Early slow wave sleep/activity and objective alertness in the morning were only reduced after reading without a filter. These results indicate that short-wavelength light affects not only circadian rhythm and evening sleepiness but causes further effects on sleep physiology and alertness in the morning. Using a blue light filter in the evening partially reduces these negative effects.

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257 How Much Blue Do Blue-Blockers Block if Blue-Blockers Do Block Blue?

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.256 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A103-A103

Author(s):

Brooke Mason ◽

Andrew Tubbs ◽

William Killgore ◽

Fabian-Xosé Fernandez ◽

Michael Grandner

Keyword(s):

Light Source ◽

Blue Light ◽

Short Wavelength ◽

Light Exposure ◽

Visible Spectrum ◽

Group Differences ◽

Melatonin Secretion ◽

Short Wavelength Light ◽

Wavelength Light ◽

One Way Anova

Abstract Introduction Short-wavelength light (440-530nm) can suppress endogenous melatonin secretion from the pineal gland. This has been observed in realworld settings when people use electronic media at night that emits light from this part of the visible spectrum. Blue-blocking glasses are a possible intervention to reduce blue light exposure. The present study evaluated the ability of commercially available blue-blockers to block blue light emitted by LEDs. Methods A calibrated spectroradiometer (Ocean Insight), cosine corrector, optic fiber, and software package were used to measure the absolute irradiance (uW/cm^2/nm) generated from a blue light source (Phillips Go Lite Blu) in an otherwise completely dark room. Thirty-one different commercially-available blue-blockers were individually placed between the cosine corrector and the light source at a standardized distance, and then intensity was measured and analyzed. Lenses were evaluated with regards to the amount of blue light they suppressed both individually and grouped by lens tint: red-tinted lenses (RTL), orange-tinted lenses (OTL), orange-tinted lenses with blue reflectivity (OBL), brown-tinted lenses (BTL), yellow-tinted lenses (YTL), and clear lenses with blue reflectivity (RBL). Results RTL blocked 100% of the short-wavelength light, while OTL and OBL blocked 99%, BTL blocked 66%, YTL blocked 38%, and RBL blocked 11% of it. This represented a statistically significant between-group difference (one-way ANOVA, < 0.0001). Within groups, there was variability in performance among individual lenses, though this variability was small compared to the between-group differences. Conclusion The RTL, OTL, and OBL block light best capable of suppressing melatonin secretion at night (440-530 nm); with slightly less efficacy, BTL and YTL also restricted much of the light exposure. Lastly, RBL were not effective at curtailing short-wavelength light. Those looking to optimize blue-blocking capabilities should use RTL, OTL, and OBL, rather than other lens types. Support (if any):

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