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Anonymous Poster

UV - Blue Light and Macular Degeneration

04/28/2010 1:21 AM

Hi and many anticipated thanks.

I am looking for info on protection of UV and blue light once indoors.

Macular degeneration has just been diagnosed in one eye and I now wear (expensive) sunglasses above my ordinary glasses. But what about when indoors ?

I would like to learn more about indoor reflection of UV and blue light, what surfaces exacerbate the problem? What creates a danger? What protection can I take?

Grateful thanks

Avionna
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Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: UV - Blue Light and Macular Degeneration

04/28/2010 2:34 PM

Sorry to see that you have macular degeneration. It sounds like it may have been caught early; and it's good that it's only in one eye.

Your doctor should be able to give you some information on safeguards, but here are a few thoughts I have. I'm a physicist/optics engineer and I've worked in lighting for many years.

Ordinary window glass is good at filtering our the worst of the UV, but you can still be exposed to some UV-B, UV-A and blue light on sunny days from light that comes in through the window. At night old-style mercury-vapor street lights, 'security' lights and parking lot lights have some UV and blue light. (If the lights look bluish, they could be a problem.)

Diffused light is less of a problem than a direct glare source. For example, a sunlight glint off a car's window or chrome would likely be bad. So you might want to put diffusing drapery liners over your widows. They'll let in light, but screen out most of the harsh glare.

The surfaces inside your house won't make the problem worse (they don't add any UV or blue energy) but they can help if they have matte finishes, by scattering any glare that comes into your house. So minimize shiny surfaces that are near your windows.

The lighting inside your house should be regular old incandescent lighting. Avoid fluorescent lighting. If you have a fluorescent fixture you can't replace, use warm-white lighting (2500 to 4000 kelvin) bulbs, not cool blue or 'sunlight' or 'full spectrum' ones (like 5000 to 7000 kelvin). Avoid most white LED lighting since these use a blue LED to stimulate the emission of the white light.

Also, be careful with the style of sunglasses you wear. They need to block glare from entering your eye from the side. Your irises open when wearing sunglasses, so if you don't block sunlight glare from the side, you might be fooling yourself into thinking you are protected when you aren't.
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Doorman
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: UV - Blue Light and Macular Degeneration

04/29/2010 2:25 PM

Well done, Guest. A good answer (GA) for you.

Well considered and well worded... kind words to another in a distressing situation... sounds like helpful advice... all deserving a 'GA'.

Have you, dear Guest, considered joining our little club? Yearly dues are cheap!

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Anonymous Poster
#3
In reply to #1

Re: UV - Blue Light and Macular Degeneration

05/10/2010 2:44 AM

Hi and good morning,

Apologies for the lateness of my reply and many grateful thanks for all this useful information.

Below I list what I have done for the benefit of people also suffering from AMD.

Macular degeneration being of permanent nature could have sent me into the realms of paranoia about incoming light.....and to draw the curtain ........figuratively speaking as well as around the house.....

I have chosen to get on with life but with maximum protection available as of today.

Whilst still in France, from Afflelou, I bought some special outdoor sunglasses; the frame was developed from protective eye ware (welders....) and made to wear on top of ordinary prescription glasses. The optician recommended the Essilor lenses "Airwear - melanine brun orange, flash (reflecting) antiscratch anti UV 100% & anti blue light 98%. (Apparently for life)- I am also taking vitamin tablets with lutein & zeaxanthine.

Now in Spain (and strong sun) Specsavers is providing me with indoors protective glasses called Ultradrive+Ultraclear.

In France from IKEA I had bought their roller blinds filtering screens in black and they were very effective at cutting glare : I shall do that again here, as per your recommendation. What about a white melamine large computer desk top? should I do something about that as it is not too far from a window ?

Apparently there is now a vitamin supplement with 3 ingredients, the 3rd one being most effective for AMD, would you happen to know the name ?

Again, very many thanks for your support in the matter.

Cordialement

Avionna
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Prospero
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 6
#4
In reply to #3

Re: UV - Blue Light and Macular Degeneration

11/08/2010 4:34 PM

Hi

Wasn't this years Nobel Prize given to Ferrara in part for his work on macular degenration and a new type of protein called VEGF ?
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