Vision Loss & Blue Light

[SuperDragon]

Hi everyone,
I just want to share my vision loss experience with my reef. Im obsessed with sps since 2006ish. I love our hobby. I'm a 40 year old surgeon and my wife is an optometrist.

She recently got a new toy called a OCT scanner/machine ($50k) and uses it as a screening tool (MRI for the inside of the eye, not just photos!) and I was the guinea pig. The scan is very advanced.

After my scan I was informed that I have macular disease in my right eye, NOT age related, but due to damage from actinic blue lights. I had damage in my right eye equivalent to a 70 year, almost double my age! This can only be detected by a OCT scan and nothing else. The macula in the back of my eye is degenerating from blue light!
One's vision will get darker, difficulty seeing at night, and lead to blindness. This is NOT reversible but a ounce prevention is worth a pound of cure.
UV protection do not stop this type of damage. I was depressed and went into denial.

My wife understands my love for the hobby and the problem with blue light leaking, scatter, glare, or light leakage. I could careless at this point for myself and fear for my CHILDREN!

She knew I cannot give up my hobby.
So these are her recommendations.

1. Use a canopy if possible.
I added one because I could not stand the light leakage anymore. We all strive to have a even blanket of PAR on our tanks but light leakage is an issue with T5, MH, and newer LEDS with wide lenses. Having a canopy is like a lamp shade over one's tank. I like the open top look and convenience putting my hands in, but not worth losing my vision for.

2. Use Blue light blocking lenses to minimize exposure.
They work and are not standardized. Some block between 5-30%. Higher the better, but will sacrifice color rendition. I got mine online for under $20, cheap and work. Higher quality prescription ones cost a lot more but also more effective, better materials, last longer.

3. Blue light blocking app. Not just for sleeping, but to reduce intense blue light from one's electronic devices.

4. Take Lutien supplements. Studies show long term reduction in damage to the macula.

5. Best to get your eyes checked and scanned with a OCT and interpreted/ evaluated from a Eye Doctor. Not all of them have a OCT, it's expensive equipment. Be sure to ask before you go.

Personally, the hospital operating room upgraded their surgical lights to over 100+ LEDS in each! I have to turn down intensity to 60-80% and wear blue blocking lenses. Or my eyes burn, dry, headaches, and feel pain.

For our friends that work at LFS I hope they all are informed. They probably get the most exposure.

If I'm missing anything please share. I'm not a Eye doctor.

I now have to change my lifestyle and I hope this can help someone prevent one's vision loss or even protect their children's vision to enjoy our amazing hobby.

 

[Willz]

Thanks for your post! Sorry to hear that this has impacted you! I just fast tracked putting up a canopy on my new tank!

 

[miyags]

And here I'm thinking my eye problems were from the large screen TV. Those blue leds all ways get me when working on my tanks. Double whammy.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Hmmm. Went online to make an appointment for new glasses and this was linked on my Dr.'s Facebook...

http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/blue-light.htm

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I hope this isn't turning into a your tank is killing you thread.
I'm not a scientist, but a cowboy, farmer soldier, welder, african bushman, and Himalayan are exposed to a lot of UV from 5am to 10pm. Should you stare into a metal halide? No. SHould you use a canopy so the kids dont stare into the MH or Radion, yea, it makes your tank look better actually. Do contractors use the biggest most expensive new half researched lights and not use a meter to set them based on years of research into spectrum and intensity? Oh yea!
Do we remember when science said margarine was better than butter? Or that we should eliminate all fat from our diet? Or that all bacteria and exposure to it is bad? Or that pasteurization of everything is good?

Don't look directly into the sun.


Jus sayin.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Oh man! Sorry about your eyesight. It's a real concern.

We are dealing with very intense and powerful lighting.

 

[hart24601]

Why only in the right eye?

 

[SuperDragon]

Why only in the right eye?

Both my eyes are affected and my right eye is most severe. We have no idea why the right is worst. My night vision is affected most at this point so night time driving is sketchy.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Both my eyes are affected and my right eye is most severe. We have no idea why the right is worst. My night vision is affected most at this point so night time driving is sketchy.

I'm curious about that too. Do you wear glasses? Are you someone who has worn glasses a long time? Do you wear them in the operating theater with bright overhead lighting? Does your posture favor exposing that side of your face to the overhead high intensity lighting, possibly reflecting off of the glass lenses into your right eye? (I'm wondering because I have noticed that I get reflected light sometimes from my glasses working on precise tasks and task lighting). Could exposure to those lights be also a contributing factor?

I'm not trying to minimize the impact of what you are saying, merely trying to offer something as a possible explanation as to why the right is more affected than the left. Blue light carries a lot of energy, it's like high frequency sound. Shortwavelengths with lots of energy behind them do some very damaging things to sensitive organs like the eyes and inner ears.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Wow, interesting information! Thanks Dr. @SuperDragon ! Always new things to learn about this hobby. I wonder how close one has to be to the light source to experience macular degeneration? I'll definitely start wearing my blue light blocking glasses when staring into my tank, but I wonder how much of this comes from computers, phones, tablets, etc. which we all look at more than the blue tank lights. I'd like to see more information on the amount of light one has exposure too that causes damage... Interesting thoughts Dr.!
@saltyfilmfolks , what do you think in terms of lux, or whatever measurement is appropriate that we can measure definitively to prevent blue light vision loss? Would you use lux as a measure? Then it would be quite easy to measure the light output in the location where we look at our tanks the most, and make a decision from there.
I also hope this doesn't turn into a tank killing you post. I mean, we can already contract some kind of VD or something; Diesel posted something a few months ago about acros with herpes or gonorrhea or some strange thing.

 

[deaclauderdale]

@EyeReef this is the post I was referencing.

 

[DanConnor]

Do you typically have the surgical lights placed more on your right side?

 

[BlueCursor]

Children not exposed to enough blue light develop vision problems too. In children, the blue light activates a gene that is needed. A lack of blue light leads to vision problems where they can't see far correctly.

The study that proved blue light harmful used high amounts of blue light, from 410 - 455 wave lengths and only those lengths. I doubt your 20000K lighting is causing problems unless you sit there and stare at it. Keep in mind, your room's soft light bulbs are 2700K, and outside daylight is 5000K. Your tank lighting has a minimal impact at best unless you stare at the bulbs a lot.

 

[SuperDragon]

Oh man! Sorry about your eyesight. It's a real concern.

We are dealing with very intense and powerful lighting.

Thank you for your empathy & concern, its less about me and informing others of potential problems.

 

[SuperDragon]

I'm curious about that too. Do you wear glasses? Are you someone who has worn glasses a long time? Do you wear them in the operating theater with bright overhead lighting? Does your posture favor exposing that side of your face to the overhead high intensity lighting, possibly reflecting off of the glass lenses into your right eye? (I'm wondering because I have noticed that I get reflected light sometimes from my glasses working on precise tasks and task lighting). Could exposure to those lights be also a contributing factor?

I'm not trying to minimize the impact of what you are saying, merely trying to offer something as a possible explanation as to why the right is more affected than the left. Blue light carries a lot of energy, it's like high frequency sound. Shortwavelengths with lots of energy behind them do some very damaging things to sensitive organs like the eyes and inner ears.

Thank you Rick, I have tried to isolate/figure out why all this happened. It's traumatizing to say least, but since I'm not a eye doctor I discussed this with my wife at length. Unfortunately she and I don't have all the answers with the exception that my wife gave me preventative information.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Thank you for your empathy & concern, its less about me and informing others of potential problems.

It's important information.

My uncle has a form of macular degeneration that has affected him nearly his entire adult life, He is in his 70's now and still functioning with very minimal eyesight. My best friend suffers from macular degeneration, his father does too. His father is now nearly totally blind. My friend was diagnosed with Macular degeneration when he was 22 years old. He has "black holes" that appear in his vision, particularly the left eye. (He was told that his was equivalent to a 70 year old man). It seems to run in his family, his father isn't the only member in history who has suffered blindness.

They never mentioned blue light too him, but I will most definitely bring it up too him, he is also an aquarist. His began LONG before he took part in this hobby, but anything that may aggravate the condition is certainly a major concern. Thank you for sharing your experience I will pass it along too him.

Obviously this is something that you should address with the medical supply industry regarding their surgical lighting as well. Never hurts to inform all parties involved.

Hopefully you will be able to see for many many many years.

 

[SuperDragon]

Wow, interesting information! Thanks Dr. @SuperDragon ! Always new things to learn about this hobby. I wonder how close one has to be to the light source to experience macular degeneration? I'll definitely start wearing my blue light blocking glasses when staring into my tank, but I wonder how much of this comes from computers, phones, tablets, etc. which we all look at more than the blue tank lights. I'd like to see more information on the amount of light one has exposure too that causes damage... Interesting thoughts Dr.!
@saltyfilmfolks , what do you think in terms of lux, or whatever measurement is appropriate that we can measure definitively to prevent blue light vision loss? Would you use lux as a measure? Then it would be quite easy to measure the light output in the location where we look at our tanks the most, and make a decision from there.
I also hope this doesn't turn into a tank killing you post. I mean, we can already contract some kind of VD or something; Diesel posted something a few months ago about acros with herpes or gonorrhea or some strange thing.

I don't specialize in eyes and would like to know the answers to your questions as well. My boss, the eye care professional asked me to minimize the blue light for me. I think that would be a good discussion with a eye doctor. I'm posting my experience so others know that blue light and not just UV only is damaging and should be respected.

 

[optibob]

Hi everyone,
I just want to share my vision loss experience with my reef. Im obsessed with sps since 2006ish. I love our hobby. I'm a 40 year old surgeon and my wife is an optometrist.

She recently got a new toy called a OCT scanner/machine ($50k) and uses it as a screening tool (MRI for the inside of the eye, not just photos!) and I was the guinea pig. The scan is very advanced.

After my scan I was informed that I have macular disease in my right eye, NOT age related, but due to damage from actinic blue lights. I had damage in my right eye equivalent to a 70 year, almost double my age! This can only be detected by a OCT scan and nothing else. The macula in the back of my eye is degenerating from blue light!
One's vision will get darker, difficulty seeing at night, and lead to blindness. This is NOT reversible but a ounce prevention is worth a pound of cure.
UV protection do not stop this type of damage. I was depressed and went into denial.

My wife understands my love for the hobby and the problem with blue light leaking, scatter, glare, or light leakage. I could careless at this point for myself and fear for my CHILDREN!

She knew I cannot give up my hobby.
So these are her recommendations.

1. Use a canopy if possible.
I added one because I could not stand the light leakage anymore. We all strive to have a even blanket of PAR on our tanks but light leakage is an issue with T5, MH, and newer LEDS with wide lenses. Having a canopy is like a lamp shade over one's tank. I like the open top look and convenience putting my hands in, but not worth losing my vision for.

2. Use Blue light blocking lenses to minimize exposure.
They work and are not standardized. Some block between 5-30%. Higher the better, but will sacrifice color rendition. I got mine online for under $20, cheap and work. Higher quality prescription ones cost a lot more but also more effective, better materials, last longer.

3. Blue light blocking app. Not just for sleeping, but to reduce intense blue light from one's electronic devices.

4. Take Lutien supplements. Studies show long term reduction in damage to the macula.

5. Best to get your eyes checked and scanned with a OCT and interpreted/ evaluated from a Eye Doctor. Not all of them have a OCT, it's expensive equipment. Be sure to ask before you go.

Personally, the hospital operating room upgraded their surgical lights to over 100+ LEDS in each! I have to turn down intensity to 60-80% and wear blue blocking lenses. Or my eyes burn, dry, headaches, and feel pain.

For our friends that work at LFS I hope they all are informed. They probably get the most exposure.

If I'm missing anything please share. I'm not a Eye doctor.

I now have to change my lifestyle and I hope this can help someone prevent one's vision loss or even protect their children's vision to enjoy our amazing hobby.

Ok so I am an optometrist also but I work in a sub specialty ophthalmology clinic, we have 3 retinal specialists/surgeons that I spoke with today on this subject, their answer was there is NO conclusive fact that blue light causes macular degeneration or macular damage at all to this point. There may be a link to disruption of circadian time though but that also is ??? Also it is NOT true that getting a OCT scan is the only way to determine that you have macular degeneration, its a supplemental test to see if fluid is building in the macula amongst other changes it can detect, so no need to ask ur eye doctor if they have one ,they can diagnose macular deign with out one,if they feel they need a scan,they can order the test elsewhere, also in terms of taking Lutien, the best thing you can do to help prevent macular degeneration is to eat healthy, exercise, multivitamin as per directed by ur PCP, don`t smoke, UV protection when outside.Now once determined you have macular degeneration then a vitamin combo supplement is warranted as determined by the AREDS2 studies. So in conclusion, blue blockers can decrease strain, also better acuity in dusk,fog but thats it.REEF ON!!

 

[optibob]

Ok so I am an optometrist also but I work in a sub specialty ophthalmology clinic, we have 3 retinal specialists/surgeons that I spoke with today on this subject, their answer was there is NO conclusive fact that blue light causes macular degeneration or macular damage at all to this point. There may be a link to disruption of circadian time though but that also is ??? Also it is NOT true that getting a OCT scan is the only way to determine that you have macular degeneration, its a supplemental test to see if fluid is building in the macula amongst other changes it can detect, so no need to ask ur eye doctor if they have one ,they can diagnose macular deign with out one,if they feel they need a scan,they can order the test elsewhere, also in terms of taking Lutien, the best thing you can do to help prevent macular degeneration is to eat healthy, exercise, multivitamin as per directed by ur PCP, don`t smoke, UV protection when outside.Now once determined you have macular degeneration then a vitamin combo supplement is warranted as determined by the AREDS2 studies. So in conclusion, blue blockers can decrease strain, also better acuity in dusk,fog but thats it.REEF ON!!

One more note ,visually if you have macular degeneration you get a blind/dark spot right in the center of ur vision, not darkness over your complete vision, nor do you become night blind, night blindness can be caused by any number of things, cataract, uncorrected nearsightedness, retinitis pigmentosa , just setting the record straight

 

[optibob]

One more note ,visually if you have macular degeneration you get a blind/dark spot right in the center of ur vision, not darkness over your complete vision, nor do you become night blind, night blindness can be caused by any number of things, cataract, uncorrected nearsightedness, retinitis pigmentosa , just setting the record straight

Upon further review, I have to admit Super Dragon, your post was a bit irresponsible but I hope my response helped clear the air/water, I hope no hard feelings, I totally respect ur hard work to become a health care provider as I`m sure you are awesome in your field, peace!