Research into Digital Artifical Light

A new study* highlights the disruption to sleep patterns which can be caused by blue light emitted from digital devices. 

The study, at the University of Houston College of Optometry, had people wearing blue blocking filters before bed. Participants still performed their usual nightly digital routine. Results showed a 58% increase in night-time melatonin levels. Melatonin is the chemical that signals your body its time to sleep. These melatonin levels were higher than would be achieved taking over-the-counter melatonin supplements.

“The most important takeaway is that blue light at night time really does decrease sleep quality. Sleep is very important for the regeneration of many functions in our body,” said Dr. Ostrin, from University of Houston College of Optometry.

The 22 study participants wore sleep monitors 24 hours a day. They reported sleeping better, falling asleep faster, and even increased their sleep duration by 24 minutes a night.

The largest source of blue light is sunlight, but it's also found in most LED-based devices. Blue light boosts alertness and regulates our internal body clock, or circadian rhythm, that tells our bodies when to sleep. This light activates photoreceptors, called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which suppresses melatonin.

Dr. Ostrin recommended limiting screen time, applying screen filters, wearing computer glasses that block blue light, or using anti-reflective lenses to offset the effects of artificial light at night time. Some devices have night mode settings that limit blue light exposure.

“By using blue filtering lenses we are decreasing input to the photoreceptors, so we can improve sleep and still continue to use our devices" she said.

Closer to home we are dispensing blue coating on lenses. This coating improves comfort looking at screens. Wearers also find the blue coat is good for driving. Blue light causes light scatter so in daylight conditions blocking this reduces glare. Please contact us if you have any questions about lens coating options.

*Study published in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics.

Are your glasses insured?

We arrange replacement glasses following all number of 'events'. Glasses are left in buses overseas, on the plane and who knows where. Closer to home they go through the mulcher, are run over by the mower and chewed by the dog. Believe me, we hear many colourful tales.

Most household contents insurance policies will cover your glasses. Depending on your excess it can be a relief to have cover for new glasses. If you lose your glasses travelling overseas your travel insurance will probably cover that loss.  Ask us how we can help.

International Myopia Conference Updates - Spend Time Outside

Updates are filtering through from the International Myopia Conference, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. Some of the studies are confirming our gut instincts - more outside time is beneficial to preventing myopia (short-sight), as well as slowing myopia progression.

In Taiwan, 20% of 7 year olds are myopic, increasing to 85% by age 18. Pei-Chang Wu presented the results of a school based intervention trialled across Taiwan called the ROC (recess outside classroom). ROC involved spending breaks outside (an extra 40+ min / day), educating parents about the risks of myopia and importance of outside time, along with outdoor diaries and sticker reward systems to encourage outdoor time and breaks from near work at home. A total of nearly 700 Grade 1 children across 16 schools participated. There were two groups, one was a control.

The results? Over a year, this intervention inhibited myopia progression by about 30%. 

This is important as previous data has indicated that outdoor time may only be beneficial to non myopic children, and not once myopia has onset. The ROC program showed a benefit for all children, both myopes and in the incidence of onset of new myopes - 8% in the ROC group compared to 18% in the control group.

The conclusion? This outdoor time stuff really works; for the at-risk pre-myope and the myope. Early interventions matter, provided they result in a change in behaviour.

We look forward to more information coming out of this meeting. If you have any questions regarding myopia please don't hesitate to contact us.

New Daylight Halo Table Magnifier

We have just received this new magnifier - it is a beauty. With a sleek, modern design it is light and compact. It is set up in our workshop - helpful for all those small optical screws. The magnifier is a useful 2.25x, with an insert giving extra magnification for very small details. The light is a daylight LED for high contrast and accurate colour matching. We know these will be popular for handwork and reading, The stand can tilt forward which makes it easy to set up over any task. Come in and see a demo.

Orthokeratology Society of Oceania

Recently Claire joined the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania (OSO). This group is recognised and trusted as the leading authority on OrthoK in this part of the world. OSO aims to expand the safe use of OrthoK and help reduce the impact of the global myopic epidemic.

Membership of OSO requires completing a training 'BootCamp' and demonstrating skills and understanding of fitting these specialist contact lenses.

We are excited about the possibilities that OrthoK offers. These contact lenses, worn at night, give great vision and freedom from contact lenses and glasses throughout the day. They are also proving very successful in slowing the progression of myopia.  This is a heartening message especially for myopic parents who know from personal experience how eyesight changes throught childhood and adolescence.

Read more about Myopia and OrthoK. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Claire McDonald pictured with OSO Board Optometrists Jagrut Lalu (left) and Alex Petty (right).

Myopia Management - Resources

Short-sightedness is a global public health problem. Most people think of myopia (the medical term for short-sightedness) as an inconvenience because the blurred vision it causes is easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses. The problem is that a myopic eye is a longer eye and so the light sensitive part at the back of the eye is stretched. This can lead to a number of eye diseases in later life, such as glaucoma, maculopathy and retinal detachment. Higher levels of myopia (stronger glasses) correlates to greater problems.

Experts are also concerned because the number of people with myopia is increasing. Research suggests that by 2050 it will affect half the world’s population. Myopia normally develops in children and increases in prevalence and amount during the teenage years. We know that about 30% of teenagers in the UK have myopia, and in some East Asian countries around 80% of teenagers have myopia.

Here are the predictions: 

• 5 billion myopes by the year 2050; up from 1.4 billion in 2000
• 1 billion high myopes by 2050; a five-fold increase from 2000
• Number with vision loss from high myopia to increase seven-fold from 2000 to 2050; myopia to become a leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide.

The impact of these levels of myopia on all areas of society is enormous due to the cost of eye examinations, glasses and treatment of eye disease. The reasons why myopia develops are not fully understood; the prevalence has increased too quickly to be explained solely by genetics.

We know that our visual environment also has a role in myopia development. Our lifestyle has changed significantly over the last 50 years, with greater time being spent indoors on computers, tablets and smartphones. It is the lack of time that children spend outdoors that seems to trigger myopia development.

Globally there are many people actively looking for ways to prevent myopia, or, if it has started, at ways to slow its progression. It has challenged our traditional approach to myopia, test vision and make up stronger glasses as needed. Now we are actively helping people consider alternatives which may help reduce progression, and increasing understanding of this phenomenom.

Here are some resources:

Australian Optometrist Dr Kate Gifford has developed an online tool for families to work out the risk of children becoming myopic - My Kid's Vision

Myopia Prevention is a good overview.

Nature published this great article about the Myopia Boom.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss myopia.