Differential protective effects of blue light (BL)-exposed retinal pigment epithelial cells by selective BL-filtering lenses Experimental Eye Research, July 2026; 268:111034
Mohamed Abdouh, William Sebag, Nadia Abdouh, Alicia Goyeneche, Miguel N. Burnier [The MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory]

"Blue light (BL) is harmful to eye posterior segment structures. It induces accelerated retina aging and the progression of retinal diseases. We reported that BL is cytotoxic to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell through oxidative damage. ... This study highlights the need to selectively filter BL radiation wavelengths from light reaching the eye. It will help to define the best filtering devices to prevent RPE cell damage and eye posterior segment structure-related disease progression, such as during age-related macular degeneration."
As light is a risk factor for AMD progression, the use of the BL-filtering devices (i.e., intraocular lenses (IOL) or glasses) represented a preventive strategy to mitigate the deleterious effects of these light spectra on RPE cells (Rezai et al., 2008; Kernt et al., 2009; Edwards and Gibson, 2010; Mastromonaco et al., 2021; Abdouh et al., 2022; Yu et al., 2022; Cougnard-Gregoire et al., 2023; Nassrallah et al., 2024).
As light is a risk factor for AMD progression, the use of the BL-filtering devices (i.e., intraocular lenses (IOL) or glasses) represented a preventive strategy to mitigate the deleterious effects of these light spectra on RPE cells (Rezai et al., 2008; Kernt et al., 2009; Edwards and Gibson, 2010; Mastromonaco et al., 2021; Abdouh et al., 2022; Yu et al., 2022; Cougnard-Gregoire et al., 2023; Nassrallah et al., 2024).
High energy BL drives many eye diseases, mostly the dry form of AMD as RPE cell-accumulated A2E-rich lipofuscin increased cell photosensitivity to these spectra (Klein et al., 2014; Wielgus et al., 2010; Rozanowska et al., 2004; Sparrow et al., 2000). This is due to BL-induced photooxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, with subsequent retinal aging, and RPE cell senescence and death (Wielgus et al., 2010; Sparrow and Cai, 2001; Marie et al., 2018; Youhnovska et al., 2022; Nassrallah..( Summary

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Primary Eye Care JAMA Ophthalmology 2017; 135(6):570-575
David C. Neely, MD; Kevin J. Bray, MD; Carrie E. Huisingh, MPH; Mark E. Clark, BS; Gerald McGwin Jr, PhD,; Cynthia Owsley, PhD

"Approximately 25.0% of eyes deemed to be normal based on dilated eye examination by primary eye care physicians had macular characteristics that indicated AMD revealed by fundus photography and trained raters. A total of 30.0% of eyes with undiagnosed AMD had AMD with large drusen that would have been treatable with nutritional supplements had it been diagnosed." Full Paper

Note: more recent references on the risk of eye damage from light therapy can be found in the section marked - For Therapists