Blue light from digital devices and the sun transforms vital molecules in the eye's retina into byproducts that damage cells, according to optical chemistry research at The University of Toledo. The process outlined in the study, which was recently published in Scientific Reports, leads to age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
"We are being exposed to blue light continuously, and the eye's cornea and lens cannot block or reflect it," said study senior author Ajith Karunarathne. "It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. 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."
“If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, the study’s first author. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."
The team introduced retinal molecules to other cell types in the body, such as cancer cells, heart cells and neurons. When exposed to blue light, these cell types died as a result of the combination with retinal. Blue light alone or retinal without blue light had no effect on cells.
"No activity is sparked with green, yellow or red light," Karunarathne said. "The retinal-generated toxicity by blue light is universal. It can kill any cell type."
The study found that a molecule called alpha tocopherol, a Vitamin E derivative and a natural antioxidant in the eye and body, stops the cells from dying. However, as a person ages or the immune system is suppressed, people lose the ability to fight against the attack by retinal and blue light.
"That is when the real damage occurs," Karunarathne said. The lab currently is measuring light coming from television, cell phone and tablet screens to get a better understanding of how the cells in the eyes respond to everyday blue light exposure.
"By learning more about the mechanisms of blindness in search of a method to intercept toxic reactions caused by the combination of retinal and blue light, we hope to find a way to protect the vision of children growing up in a high-tech world."
Source: University of Toledo