The potential retinal hazards of curing light use for dentists

Background: Many recent studies have focused on the potential hazards of blue light exposure to ocular health. One group with a unique risk is dentists, who use curing lights that emit intense during restorative procedures. During these procedures, dentists often experience brief lights. The purpose present study was explore whether such exposures may an effect vision and health dentists.
 Methods: A 12 had experienced over period 10 or more years were compared eight control subjects no exposure. tested for visual acuity contrast sensitivity. Their retinas examined using fundus imaging optical coherence tomography. Macular pigment density measured. likelihood could lead effects further explored by subjecting retinal epithelial cell (RPE) line exposures.
 Results: Although defects pathologies found in either group, dentist differed from having increased macular thickness (P < 0.02), higher incidence vessel tortuosity 0.05), greater variance their values 0.01). RPE cells received similar those sustained demonstrated change physiology.
 Conclusions: Retinal changes which, while not pathological themselves, are associated some pathologies. Further necessary determine signs correlate degree they eventually develop into conditions.