Eye Research Suggests
that "Blue Light" Improves Health, Learning and Workplace
Performance.
By Laurence D. Martel,
Ph.D.
Special to Doctors Health
Journal
Major research
breakthroughs demonstrate how lighting can improve our health, learning and performance.
First, researchers have identified a new class of undetected photoreceptors in
the eye that function differently than helping us with vision. Second, new
research shows that common lighting products might be less helpful by
emphasizing only the photopic side of the visual color spectrum instead of both
the scotopic(blue wave length) and photopic side of lighting.
Dr. Michael Siminovitch,
Research Director at the California Lighting Technology Research Center at the
University of California - Davis, reports a shift in lighting research. In the
past, most lighting products and architectural designs focused on photopic
lighting. He said, "a new emphasis on the scotopic side, and particularly
the ‘blue’ wavelength holds great promise in improving vision and other
non-visual effects of ‘blue light’(400-475 nm)exposure."
Dr. Russell Foster of the
Department of Integrative and Molecular Neuroscience at Imperial College in the
United Kingdom said that “scientists recently identified a protein-like photo-pigment
within the retina called ‘CRYs’ or ‘Crypto-chromes’….� The newly discovered
photo-receptors are also responsive to blue waves, in part due to their “blue�
pigment and “contribute to several physiological responses,� according to
Foster.
Dr. Foster and his
research associates conclude that: "Blue Light influences varied aspects
of mammalian physiology, endocrinology and behavior...which are...regulated by
non-rod and non-cone ocular photoreceptors....For example, pineal melatonin
production, pupil size, adrenal cortisol secretion, heart rate, and body
temperature are all affected by irradiance (sending forth radiant ‘blue
light’). In humans, increasing environmental irradiance can result in marked
improvements in alertness and performance, including mood
fluctuation."
Building upon this
pioneer research, the September, 2003 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism reported that research at Brigham and Woman's Hospital (BWH) and
Harvard Medical School found that short-wavelength blue light has a greater
impact than most visible kinds of light on resetting the human circadian
pacemaker - which controls daily rhythms such as sleep patterns, hormones and
other physiological and behavioral functions. “These findings provide us with a
more complete understanding of how different types of light impact sleep
patterns and cause various sleep-wake disorders such as jet-lag and shift-work
disorder,� said Steven Lockley, PhD, lead author of the study. "It is the
first direct demonstration that photoreceptors other than rods and cones
influence circadian rhythms that regulate sleep in humans."
Lighting, enhanced with
the “blue wave,� according to the research team, was twice as effective as the
same amount of green light at resetting the internal circadian clock, proving
that a novel photoreceptor system exists in the human eye – a receptor that is
different than what is used for sight.
Dr. Lockley said this
"has major implications for the design of light treatment....to treat or
avoid circadian sleep disorders or sleep disorders associated with space
travel, life in extreme photoperiods such as the
Arctic and Antarctic,
changes in light exposure associated with aging and blindness, as well as
ensuring proper alignment of internal circadian rhythms with the
ever-increasing pressure to live in a 24/7 society."
"In simplest terms,
we found that looking up at the blue sky has twice the resetting effect as
looking down at the green grass," said Charles Czeisler, PhD, MD, chief of
the Division of Sleep Medicine at BWH. "This could lead to the development
of new treatments and a new class of lamps for greater
control of the circadian
clock."
The explanation for this
is that the “blue� in the color spectrum reduces pupil size in
the eye and, thereby, increases visual clarity with less strain and fatigue.
When using a floor lamp that was enhanced with innovative BlueMaxâ„¢ technology,
one retiree said she could now perform her cross stitching with greater clarity
and ease and could work for a much longer time with no headaches.
A lighting manufacturer
has taken this research seriously in its commitment to design “scotopically�
enhanced lighting products (BlueMaxâ„¢) for personal and office use. Full
Spectrum Solutions, Inc., has produced a multi-phosphor desk lamp and floor
lamp, along with fluorescent replacements that mimic daylight, but favor the
blue wave length. The innovative technology is called BlueMax Lightingâ„¢. They
hold promise for enhancing quality of vision, clarity and focus in home and
work settings, while using less electricity and reducing energy costs.
Research has shown that these new “scotopic� lamps provide therapy for Seasonal
Affective Disorder, depression and anxiety, and also increase work, hobby or
task performance. They also help deal with sleep disorders which affect as many
as 40 million Americans, including a quarter of adults and most teenagers.
Teens need about nine hours of sleep and only get about seven. Sleep
deprivation can lead to daytime fatigue, lack of alertness, deprivation in the
stress hormone cortisol and inability to process glucose which is critical to
brain function.
Pediatrician Doris Rapp,
M.D. wrote in her best selling book, Is This Your Child's World, “The
best lighting for schools (and elsewhere) is natural light. But in many
classrooms, students spend about six hours a day beneath cool white
fluorescent lights. These can emit X-rays, radiation and radio waves -
emissions that can decrease productivity and cause fatigue, confusion,
eyestrain, irritability, depression and hyperactivity in some sensitive
children (and adults).... A study of one classroom concluded that hyperactivity
declined by thirty-three percent when full-spectrum lighting replaced
fluorescent lights. So why do we not use full-spectrum lighting all the time,
but instead encourage drug therapy with Ritalin? Germany banned cool
white fluorescent lighting in both schools and hospitals years ago.� Rapp
recommends that "If fluorescent lighting must be used, it should be full
spectrum lighting." In addition, floor and desk lamps which are enhanced
with BlueMaxâ„¢ technology have been demonstrated by the University of Michigan,
School of Architecture to improve task performance in reading and visual
clarity.
Michigan Psychiatrist,
Dr. Daniel Field, stated in a recent interview with me that when he and his
staff use light therapy (with BlueMaxâ„¢ fluorescent bulbs and task lamps)
Seasonal Affective Disorder patients, along with those who suffer from other illnesses, improve much faster. His office staff also report noticeable improvements
in their personal work performance and reduced fatigue with enhanced BlueMax
Lightingâ„¢ from Full Spectrum Solutions, Inc.
Workplace productivity
can improve by changing the lighting. According to the Pennsylvania Power and
Lighting Company's report, the Drafting Department had a high error rate and it
was believed the employees were not working to their potential because of the
inadequate cool-white fluorescent light. "Light from the overhead fixtures
was bouncing off the surface of the task and into their eyes, creating a form
of indirect glare known as a veiling reflection. It was also using more energy
and lasted half as long as full spectrum fluorescent bulbs. Once installed,
actual measurement showed that the new lighting permitted workers to perform
their tasks more than thirteen percent faster. The productivity benefit was
projected to be worth $235,290 per year. It was noted, too, that absenteeism
seemed to decline after the new lighting was installed, a result, some said, of
less eyestrain and fewer headaches.�
In conclusion, people are
hesitant to change from what they are comfortable with. Shifting from the
limited incandescent lamps, high heat halogen lamps or cool-white florescent
lights to the new scotopically enhanced task lamps and full spectrum lights
will be beneficial. Nevertheless, scientific research proves that there are
previously undiscovered photoreceptors that can significantly affect our
health, our daily lives and our workplace performance by responding to blue
light and full spectrum light. Also, the scotopic side of lighting shows
promise for blue light to improve vision, clarity, focus and performance, while
reducing headaches, attention deficits, macular degeneration and other physical
and psychological problems.
Dr. Martel is Vice
President for Research and Development, Full Spectrum
Solutions, Inc. (Full
Spectrum Solutions, Inc. is an Affiliate Member of the University of California
Lighting Technology Research Center at U.C. Davis) P.O. 1087 Jackson, Michigan
49204
martel@fullspectrumsolutions.com
Web site: http://www.bluemaxlighting.com
