Most people don’t realise that the sun is the single largest source of blue light, scattering it through the atmosphere and emitting significantly higher levels than electronic devices and screens, according to John Ligas, Vice President Research and Development, Transitions Optical.
“In fact,” he says, “depending on the time of day, a majority of visible light outdoors is blue light which explains why the sky is blue.”
In preparation for spring and summer , Transitions Optical has developed educational resources for consumers and eye care professionals on the risks of harmful blue light from the sun and how Transitions lenses help to provide protection indoors and outdoors.
All Transitions lenses filter harmful blue light in all conditions. Indoors, they help protect against emissions of harmful blue light from artificial sources such as digital devices and LED lights. Outdoors they help provide extra protection from the sun, reducing our eyes’ exposure to glare, harmful blue light and UV rays.
Transitions Signature VII lenses block at least 20 per cent of harmful blue light indoors, which is up to two times more than standard clear lenses,1 and they block over 85 per cent outdoors, when activated.
Transitions XTRActive lenses are even more effective – they help provide extra protection against harmful blue light everywhere by blocking at least 34 per cent2 of harmful blue light indoors and 88-95 per cent of harmful blue light outdoors, when activated.
Ligas says this feature isn’t new to the company’s products, “Transitions lenses have always blocked a percentage of blue light indoors because the photochromic molecules in the un-activated indoor state still absorb some light without compromising vision clarity. Because we can control the structure of the photochromic molecules, we can, in turn, provide the benefit of reduced blue light exposure while the lenses are still clear.”
The training materials are available through local Transitions lens suppliers.
