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Information Page for Therapists: The Risk of Eye Damage from Bright and Blue Light Therapy There is good reason to be concerned about retinal damage from the use of bright and blue light therapy lamps. Experts have now determined that the development of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is directly related to the retinal stress that results from exposure of the eye to visible blue light. As Dr. Beatty, director of the Macular Pigment Pigment Research Group (MPRG) stated "It is photo-oxidative stress, or the cumulative exposure to free radicals from blue light over a lifetime that causes AMD".1a Recently the European Eye (EUREYE) Study "found that the combination of blue light exposure and low plasma concentrations of antioxidants was also associated with the early stages of AMD, which are common in the population, and that blue light exposure in middle age might be more damaging than at younger ages."1b Hazardous blue light wavelengths do not contribute to the effectiveness of light therapy. While early studies indicated that the eye was more sensitive to blue light wavelengths, recent studies found that monochromatic blue (479 nm) light is not more effective for light therapy than regular fluorescent white (polychromatic) light2. Most recently, in May 2010, a study from Harvard University confirmed there is no benefit to increasing the level of blue light wavelengths in light therapy.3 In comparision, one tenth of the light intensity from a Sunnex Biotechnologies GreenLIGHT has been found to be more effective at inducing physiological responses than a light therapy device that emits blue-enhanced (465 nm) light.4 Because blue light is not necessary for effective light therapy, it has been recommended that all light therapy devices screen out the potentially hazardous blue light wavelengths, and that light therapy devices emitting blue wavelengths of light should not be used. As one expert in light therapy stated, "It should be noted that broad-spectrum white light, traditionally used for bright light therapy, also contains blue light of potential concern particularly for very high intensity, long-duration exposure. Clearly, the safety of bright light therapy for people needs investigating. In the meantime it would be suggested that light in the 500 to 530 nm wavelength range (blue –green) should still be effective while avoiding the putative blue hazard".5 It is now evident that blue light exposure contributes to the development of Age-related Macular Degeneration6. Therefore, it is apparent that the use of blue or blue-enhanced light therapy lamps can only increase the risk of blindness, without any potential offsetting benefit. It is primarily the blue wavelengths of light (400-480 nm) emitted by light therapy lamps that are of concern. Blue light contributes about 90% of the risk of photochemical retinal damage from fluorescent lamps and sunlight, which is why the term "blue light hazard" is used to describe this risk. When blue light is absorbed by retinal tissue it induces oxidative stress and the resulting indigestible debris that is formed accumulates in the retina over a lifetime.

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