With human behavior significantly evolving, especially the amount of time spent in front of screens.
Mainly emitted by the sun, but also by artificial light sources,
blue light can be divided into three sub-sections:
- blue-violet (415–455nm),
- intermediate blue (ca. 460nm),
- blue-turquoise (460–510nm).
Whereas the latter is essential for human health,
blue-violet light is potentially harmful.
The blue-violet light is especially dangerous because it penetrates deeply into the eye, hitting the retina and its central area, the macula.
This is an essential zone for sight, processing 90% of the visual information received by the eye.
Even if blue-violet light is not the main cause, some eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa, can be worsened by regular exposure to this part of the visible light spectrum.
Over time, and with insufficient antioxidant defenses, this exposure can lead to cell death in the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors.