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Possible pros‐ and cons‐ of the effects of visual light on the progression of glaucoma
Author(s) -
OSBORNE NN
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2014.3724.x
Subject(s) - blue light , retina , glaucoma , intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells , ganglion , mitochondrion , oxidative stress , retinal , retinal ganglion cell , ophthalmology , biology , chemistry , neuroscience , medicine , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , optics , biochemistry , physics
The visual spectrum of light reaching the retina ranges from 400‐800nm. Certain photosensitizers associated with photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium are able to absorb short wave blue light (400‐450nm) to cause oxidative stress and irreversible damage. Photosensitizers of specific types also exist in mitochondria that are abundant in intraocular ganglion cell axons. Recent studies show that blue light is detrimental to mitochondria while long wave red light (700‐800nm) has positive effects. Moreover, in vitro studies show blue light to kill cells while red light has beneficial effects on cell survival. We therefore hypothesis that when ganglion cells are stressed, as in glaucoma subjects, then reducing the blue light (with filters) and enhancing the red light components impinging on ganglion cell axons will attenuate the rate of progression. Experimental studies on rats supporting such a notion will be reported.