Study Finds Blue Light From Smartphones Can Accelerate Blindness

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Toledo finds that the blue light emitted by devices like smartphones and tablets changes cells in our eyes which could accelerate blindness and hurt vision. The study highlighted that blue light can trigger “toxic” reactions in retinal molecules which sense light and signal the brain. These retinal molecules are used by the photoreceptors which allow the eye to actually have the ability of sight.

The researchers said that this blue light helps generate poisonous chemical reactions which can kill the photoreceptors. They can’t be restored once they die. This can then lead to macular degeneration, it’s an incurable eye disease which can cause blindness starting in the 50s and 60s.

Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the University of Toledo’s department of chemistry, said that blue light harms the vision by damaging the eye’s retina and that “Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop.”

The researchers were studying the blue light from smartphones, tablets and other devices to figure out the impact that it has during everyday exposure. They caution people to avoid using their digital devices in the dark.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: General