Researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the University of Alabama have discovered that indigo light, which has wavelengths between approximately 419 and 446 nanometers, might entirely prevent the onset of nearsightedness. This particular wavelength is largely absent in most contemporary white LED lights, contrasting with the presence of indigo light in natural sunlight. The study offers insight into a well-established phenomenon: children who spend more time outdoors tend to have a lower risk of developing myopia. In a controlled experiment involving tree shrews, whose eyes share similarities with human eyes, the researchers fitted the animals with specialized glasses equipped with lenses that stimulated myopia progression. The shrews were exposed to different lighting conditions, and the researchers consistently monitored changes in eye length and refraction. The addition of indigo light was found to inhibit the eye elongation associated with myopia. Co-author Richard Lang suggests that these findings may also be relevant to humans. This breakthrough could play a crucial role in tackling the growing "myopia epidemic," with projections indicating that by 2050, around 5 billion people could be affected by myopia, including nearly 1 billion with severe cases.
Informational material. 18+.
