SHIELDING THE EYES
FROM BLUE LIGHT
Transitions Optical, the leading provider of plastic photochromic lenses to optical manufacturers worldwide,
wants people to know that its full line of lenses are a good
defence against potentially harmful blue light – both
indoors and out.
The company has developed new educational materials,
which will be released throughout 2016, to inform eyecare
professionals about the implications of blue light exposure
and how Transitions lenses can provide a measure of
protection.
“Indoors, Transitions lenses help protect eyes against
harmful blue light emitted by artificial sources such as
digital devices and LED lights. Outdoors, they help
provide extra protection from the sun by shielding eyes
from glare, intense harmful blue light and UV rays,” says
Isabelle Tremblay-Dawson, marketing manager at
Transitions Optical.
The lenses have always blocked blue light indoors because
the photochromic molecules still absorb some light while
in the unactivated indoor state, without compromising
indoor vision clarity, she says.
“Because we have control over the structure of the
photochromic molecules, we can provide the benefit of
blue light-blocking while the lenses are still seen as clear,”
Tremblay-Dawson says.
Transitions Signature VII lenses block at least 20 per cent
of the harmful blue light indoors, which is up to two times
more than standard clear lenses, and they block over 85
per cent of blue light outdoors.
Transitions XTRActive lenses are even more effective, she
says, as they block at least 34 per cent of blue light indoors
and 88 to 95 per cent outdoors.
Transitions Vantage lenses block at least 34 per cent of
blue light indoors and over 85 per cent outdoors.
Tremblay-Dawson says this has been the case since each of
the lenses were released.
“This is not a new product and there is no physical change
in the way Transitions lenses are manufactured,” she says.
But, blue light is now at the forefront of people's minds,
she says, “because of the increased use of digital devices.
“By focusing on the comprehensive indoor and outdoor
blue light blocking benefits of our products, we are able to
appeal to today’s modern lifestyle.”
Blue light from electronic devices can cause eye strain and
fatigue.
Some scientists believe that routine exposure to blue light
over many years may age the retina and increase the risk
of blindness in seniors, according to Health Canada.
Studies have implicated blue light in the development of
macular degeneration.
“Often associated exclusively with electronic devices and
screens, harmful blue light is actually present both
indoors and outdoors,” Tremblay-Dawson says.
“What most people don’t know is that the sun is the largest singular source of blue light, scattering it through the
atmosphere and emitting over 100 times the intensity of
electronic devices and screens. In fact, depending on the
time of day, 25 to 30 per cent of outdoor visible light you
receive is blue light.”
Optical Prism | April 2016 25