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Talking to your patients about the dangers of blue-violet light is becoming more important as their exposure increases due to the continued use of digital gadgets and other devices. With that in mind, Think About Your Eyes UK recently started the “seeing blue” campaign to raise patient awareness of the damage exposure to blue-violet light can cause to their eyesight in this age of extensive screen usage and LED lighting.
Since deteriorating vision can happen over time and is often painless, your patients may not understand the damage their exposure to blue-violet light can cause. Macular degeneration is on the rise and it is largely being attributed to increased time being spent in front of computers and other screens for work and play.
One of the reasons blue-violet light is being attributed to the rise in macular degeneration is because melanin production decreases as we age. For your patients, this means their natural eye protection from these light sources is diminished, but their exposure is still increasing. Some of your patients may not be aware that there are specialty glasses that can reduce the damage to their vision from prolonged screen usage or fluorescent lighting.
Other talking points that will benefit your patients and help them become more proactive about their eye health are the importance of avoiding “digital” fatigue, and making them aware of the symptoms which include difficulty focusing, stinging or burning in the eyes and headaches. It would be wise to instruct your patients about simple eye exercises that can help them work on their focus during work days or when spending extended periods of time with a computer screen close to their faces. You may also want to remind them to take breaks at regular intervals and discuss possible visual aids that may help relieve eye strain and protect their eyes.
Chances are very good that your patients will not realize the damage being done to their eyes until they have a real problem, so educating them in the damage blue-violet light can cause and the associated risks can go far in protecting their eye health. The “Think About Your Eyes” campaign is an excellent reference point for your patients.
In addition to educating your patients on blue-violet light and other eye health risks, it’s also important to provide them with a comprehensive eye exam that includes ultra-widefield retinal imaging. Contact Optos to learn about our ultra-widefield retinal imaging technology and how it can help your practice provide the leading technology in retinal imaging.