posted Thu, 10/09/2008 - 17:12

Blue color of the solar spectrum can destroy some elements in the human eye’s structure. Some elements that comprise retina and pigment epithelium produce free oxygen radicals under irradiation of certain wavelengths. This form of oxygen is known to be as the most aggressive one, able to actively oxidize, i.e. destroy many useful substances as well as the living cells in the body. Some of these insidious substances were believed to be totally necessary for normal sight, others were considered as harmless wastes of bodily metabolism, which were simply accumulating in the human eye with years. There should be certain mechanisms of protection against such bad influence of light onto the sight, as human sight had been evolutionally developing under similar light conditions as today. True, the scientists discovered three gates of natural protection from the destructive power of blue light. The first barrier is the lens. Normally, it is yellowish color which makes it hold the main part of the blue spectrum of the blue visible light. The so-called yellow spot, the central part of the light-sensitive retina, is another natural light filter. And the third protective block is a pigment epithelium which determines the color of the eyes we have. Unfortunately, these natural protective mechanisms weaken with years; they start failing while we get older. And destruction caused by blue color get even more dangerous in case of any retina problems, as the process is irreversible. But lately, the problem seems to be getting solved. Scientists found a way to help the eyes in stopping the destruction. They constructed a prototype of glasses, an analog of the natural screening elements in the eyes. Such glasses have amber color of different intensity depending on light conditions and how much the eyes are affected. These glasses not only protect the human eyes, but also sharpen the ability to see. This phenomenon is known among the photographers who often use yellow color filters to make a shot clearer. Such glasses can help people not only with the retina’s dystrophy, but those who are badly near-sighted.