The alerting effects of both caffeine and short wavelength (blue) light have been consistently reported. The ability of blue light to enhance alertness and cognitive function via non-image forming neuropathways have been suggested as a non-pharmacological countermeasure for drowsiness across a range of occupational settings. Here we compare and contrast the alerting and psychomotor effects of 2...

The fundi of three patients with aniridia were photographed with a 470 nm illuminating light source. No apparent change in contrast was observable throughout the macular region. This would suggest an absence of the macular pigment. The likelihood of aniridics being more susceptible than normal persons to blue light damage is discussed.

Prolonged exposure to blue light may cause damage to the retina. This means there is a possibility that blue light exposure may have a role in the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There is a need for fundamental, clinical and applied research to help answer three basic questions: • Does long-term blue light exposure lead to retinal damage, particularly AMD?...

Short-wavelength visible light (blue light) of the Sun has caused retinal damage in people who have stared fixedly at the Sun without adequate protection. The author quantified the blue-light hazard of the Sun according to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines by measuring the spectral radiance of the Sun. The results showed that the exposure limi...

PURPOSE Evaluation of the potential effects of blue-light-filter lenses on sensory and physiologic factors. METHODS Scientific knowledge on circadian rhythm and scotopic vision will be summarized and potential effects of blue-light-filtering lenses on these parameters will be assessed on a theoretical basis. Clinically relevant studies will also be discussed. RESULTS As far as circadian rhy...

Color light therapy is a therapeutic method in complementary medicine. In color therapy, light of two contrasting colors is often applied in a sequential order. The aim of this study was to investigate possible physiological effects, i.e., changes in the blood volume and oxygenation in the brain and calf muscle of healthy subjects who were exposed to red and blue light in sequential order. The ...