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The impact of blue wavelength light on eyes and vision has received a lot of press in recent years. This has led to a wave of commercially available lenses and lens coatings that claim to protect your eye health by eliminating or reducing blue wavelength radiation from reaching the eyes. The information out there can be confusing and sometimes conflicting. Here are the facts about blue light and your vision.

Blue light is short wavelength, high energy radiation.

Blue light represents the short wavelength end of the visible light spectrum. If you think about the rainbow, it starts with red (long wavelength, low energy), and ends with blue and violet (short wavelength, high energy). White light and sunlight are comprised of all wavelengths of the spectrum, including blue. High-energy blue-coloured light includes wavelengths from 380-500nm, covering all shades and hues of visible blue colour. Ultraviolet radiation is a range of wavelengths shorter than 380nm and is invisible to the human eye.¹ Other sources of blue light include fluorescent lighting, LED lights and flat screen TV screens, and devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets.^1,2

Blue light can be related to digital eyestrain.

Although eyestrain and visual discomfort from staring at a screen can be due to a number of reasons, the blue light emitted from your device could be contributing.^1-3 Symptoms of digital eyestrain include fatigue, sore, dry eyes, and intermittent blurring of your vision.² In addition to blue radiation from your screen, other factors that contribute to digital eyestrain include dryness from reduced blinking, poor posture, and not giving your eyes enough breaks. Several spectacle lens manufacturers are offering blue-blocking lens coatings; while some people do find these helpful in alleviating eyestrain, there is limited evidence that they work.

Blue light can interfere with your sleep patterns.

Blue wavelength light does play an important role in regulating the body’s circadian rhythms, which is our natural waking and sleeping cycles. It stands to reason that the sun is the main source of blue light,¹ alerting our bodies that it’s daytime and helping us to wake up.^2,3 However, excessive amounts of blue light, such as from screens, when you should be winding down for the night can overstimulate your body and make it more difficult to get to sleep.^2,3 The general advice is to avoid spending time on your smartphone or computers an hour or two before you hope to turn in for the night. Many digital devices also have settings to reduce the amount of blue emitted on your device; this makes your screens look yellower.

Blue light may contribute to age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the retina at the back of the eye, involving progressive damage to the macula and loss of your central vision. We do know that UV radiation can contribute to cancers of the eyes and surrounding skin, as well as cataracts. Furthermore, research has shown that high-energy blue light has the potential to damage the retina and induce the onset of AMD. However, in practice, the use of special blue-blocking lens implants or spectacle lens coatings to prevent AMD is still controversial as the evidence for their efficacy is conflicting.⁴

Blue light actually has several benefits for your body, so it’s important not to get carried away with trying to eliminate it from your surroundings. In addition to moderating circadian rhythms, blue light also plays a role in uplifting mood, boosting memory, cognitive function, and alertness.² If you have concerns about the impact of blue light on your eyes and vision, call Junic Eye Care Plus – your Canberra Optometrist today on 02 6152 8585 to book your appointment.

References

1. All About Vision. Blue Light: What You Should Know. https://www.allaboutvision.com/. 2020. Available at: https://www.allaboutvision.com/en-au/digital-eye-strain/blue-light/. (Accessed February 2023).
2. Prevent Blindness. Blue Light and Your Eyes. https://preventblindness.org/. 2022. Available at: https://preventblindness.org/blue-light-and-your-eyes/. (Accessed February 2023).
3. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Should You Be Worried About Blue Light? https://www.aao.org/. 2021. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/should-you-be-worried-about-blue-light. (Accessed February 2023).
4. Di Carlo E, Augustin AJ. Prevention of the Onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021; 10(15):3297.

Is it Urgent or an Emergency?

Urgent symptoms are those that should be attended to within 24 to 48 hours. Conversely, emergency eye or visual symptoms are those where you should drop everything and get yourself to an eyecare professional immediately.

Optometrists are typically your first port of call when it comes to any eye or visual problem. This is because they’re trained to be primary eyecare providers – they are able to assess, diagnose, and manage a wide range of ocular conditions. For diseases or situations that fall outside the optometrist’s scope of practice, for example, those requiring surgery, your optometrist is able to facilitate a referral to the right specialist. This may look like expediting your access to a private ophthalmologist or by alerting the attending eye doctor at the Canberra Hospital ahead of your arrival to the ophthalmology department.

More often than not, a symptom that felt like an emergency can be successfully managed by your local optometrist. This saves you a trip (and the many hours of waiting) at the emergency department of your public hospital.

Emergency symptoms are those that herald an eye disease, or even a systemic disease, that is sight-threatening or life-threatening without immediate treatment. Urgent eye conditions are those that may be uncomfortable, painful, or inconvenient, but don’t present an immediate threat to your vision and can afford to be tended to within a couple of days at a Canberra eye hospital.

Examples of Urgent vs Emergency Eye Care Conditions

This list is not exhaustive nor is it intended to be a prescriptive way of self-diagnosing whether your situation is an emergency or not. If ever in doubt, treat your situation as an emergency. You can consider calling your local Canberra optometrist for a quick discussion of your symptoms over the phone before attending in person. Your optometrist will be able to advise you whether to come into the practice or whether you would be better off going straight to the Canberra Hospital emergency department.

These are some examples where emergency eye care is required:

• Trauma to the eye, whether from chemical burns, blunt trauma (a blow to the eye), or sharp injury (such as a shard of glass).
• Sudden loss of vision. Any sudden or rapidly progressive deterioration to your sight is an emergency. This includes loss of all or just part of your vision, and whether the loss results in a total blackout of that area or just a grey haze.
• Visual symptoms associated with other symptoms. Visual disturbances alongside a feeling of being generally unwell, a deep pain around the eye, jaw pain when chewing, or vomiting, should be assessed immediately.

Examples of urgent symptoms include:

• A pinprick or foreign body sensation in the eye. You may well have a particle lodged in the eye (which your optometrist can manage), or it may simply be a sign of dry eye disease.
• Discharge from the eye. Discharge is commonly seen with conjunctivitis, both bacterial and viral. However, it can also be present with dry eyes or allergic conjunctivitis. All of these conditions can be managed as an urgent case with your optometrist.
• Flashes and floaters. Flashing lights and floating specks in your vision should be assessed by your optometrist within a day or two.

If you have any concerns about your eyes or sight, call Junic Eye Care Plus- your Canberra Optometrist-today on 02 6152 8585.

References

Modern Optometry. Urgent or Emergent? https://modernod.com/. 2021. Available at: https://modernod.com/articles/2021-apr/urgent-or-emergent?c4src=article:infinite-scroll. (Accessed February 2023).

1. Stop smoking.

Smoking is considered to be the single most significant modifiable risk factor for AMD. Research has identified that smokers are at a three to four times increased risk of developing AMD compared to non-smokers, and also tend to develop AMD five to ten years earlier than non-smokers.²

If you’re a smoker, take steps today to quit. There are a number of resources and support groups to help you on your journey. You may also wish to discuss with your GP about the best approach for you in putting those cigarettes away for good.

2. Eat a balanced diet high in antioxidants and other nutrients.

Nutrition plays a big part in our overall health, not just for our eyes. When it comes to AMD, we know that the right nutrition can benefit the macula greatly. It’s able to both reduce your risk of developing AMD in the first place as well as slow its rate of progression if you do get it.³

So, what is considered a macula-healthy diet? Aim for a diet rich in the following nutrients:³

• Lutein and zeaxanthin. These are potent antioxidants that have been proven by research to be protective for the macula. Good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin are found in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach. You can also get them from other vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, peas, and pumpkin, as well as eggs.
• Omega-3. Omega-3 is known to be healthy for your eyes beyond just benefitting the macula. Popular sources of omega-3 are oily fish, including salmon and trout, but if fish is not your thing, flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts are also good sources of this important fatty acid. Additionally, plant-derived oils such as soybean and canola oils contain omega-3.
• Vitamins E and C. Vitamins E and C are important nutrients for protecting the macula with strong antioxidant properties. Vitamin E is found in nuts such as almonds and peanuts, as well as in pumpkins, spinach, and collard greens. Citrus fruits are rich sources of vitamin C, as are tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower.
• High levels of zinc contribute to reducing the risk of advanced AMD, potentially through moderating inflammatory responses in the eye.⁴ Oysters, lobster, dairy products, and poultry are good sources of zinc.

Dietary supplements are available to support the health of your macula. However, these supplements are not suitable for everyone, so talk to your Canberra optometrist about whether they will be of benefit to you first.

3. Get enough physical exercise.

Physical activity has been associated with a reduced risk of AMD. In particular, an active lifestyle can lower your likelihood of late-stage AMD.⁵

Another good defence for your macula is attending for your routine eye tests so your optometrist can monitor your macula health over time. Our Canberra Optometrist is a phone call away.

Go to https://juniceyecare.com.au/ or call (02) 6152 8585 to book your appointment.

References

1. MD Foundation Australia. Age-related macular degeneration. https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/. 2023. Available at: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/about-macular-disease/age-related-macular-degeneration/AMD-overview/. (Accessed February 2023).
2. Macular Disease Foundation Australia. Risk factors for AMD. https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/. 2023. Available at: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/about-macular-disease/age-related-macular-degeneration/risk-factors-for-amd/. (Accessed February 2023).
3. Macular Disease Foundation Australia. Eating for eye health. https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/. 2021. Available at: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/about-macular-disease/age-related-macular-degeneration/nutrition-for-amd/. (Accessed February 2023).
4. Smailhodzic D, van Asten F, Blom AM, Mohlin FC, den Hollander AI, van de Ven JPH, et al. Zinc Supplementation Inhibits Complement Activation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(11): e112682.
5. McGuinness M, Le J, Mitchell P, et al.Physical Activity and Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Ophthalmology. 2017; 180:29-38.

What Do They Mean?

Flashes and floaters originate from inside the eyeball – there is actually no lightning in the distance, nor is there a fly buzzing around your face. There are two common reasons for flashes and floaters.

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)

A PVD is a normal age-related change to the vitreous gel occupying the back half of the eyeball. As we age, this gel loses its solid molecular arrangement and slowly begins to liquify. Because the vitreous is attached to certain parts of the light-sensing retina, as it collapses in on itself, it can tug at these points. This tugging mechanically stimulates the perception of light from the retina, which is what you see as photopsia. Floaters during a PVD can occur from strands of vitreous floating around pockets of liquid, or from tufts of retinal tissue that have been pulled off as the vitreous shrinks away from its points of attachment.

Retinal detachment.

A retinal detachment is considered a sight-threatening eye condition. The retina lines the inside of the eyeball. During a detachment, it peels away from its underlying tissues, much like wallpaper peeling away from the wall. The retina relies on support from the underlying tissues to function – if it becomes detached, it is no longer able to receive blood supply or nutrients, nor is it able to send on its neural signals for vision. Flashes during a retinal detachment are due to mechanical stimulation of the sensory photoreceptors, while floaters can be from fragments of retinal tissue or blood cells from broken retinal capillaries. A retinal detachment may only involve a small area of retina or can be extensive; it may involve the macula (affecting your central vision), or the macula may be preserved. Another telling symptom of retinal detachment includes noticing a shadow or dark curtain across part of your sight.

What Should I Do?

Any observation of flashes with or without floaters should be investigated by an optometrist promptly. Your local optometrist is well-equipped to assess the state of your retina and advise whether it’s a normal PVD that requires monitoring or a retinal detachment that requires urgent referral to an ophthalmologist.

You can expect to have eyedrops that will dilate your pupil so your optometrist can get a good view of the retina. With these drops in effect, you will not be able to drive for a couple of hours afterward, you’ll be very glare sensitive, and your near vision may be blurry.

The sudden onset of flashes and floaters should not be ignored, even if your vision is otherwise fine. If you experience these symptoms, contact your local Canberra optometrist on the same day for further advice on what to do.

For all appointments visit www.juniceyecare.com.au or call (02) 6152 8585 and book in with Canberra Optometrist.