My eyes and blue LED's

[matty2670]

Why do blue LED's and blue lighting make my eyes go funny? (Particularly those outdoor Christmas lights, and the shade of blue used in stage lighting.) It's almost like I can't focus on the light and it makes my eyes go 'funny.' What is it about light at this particular wavelength? Any ideas?

[LoftyLottie]

I found your question interesting, and found these two links.

http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3 ?type=article&article_id=218392616

http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200805/ 1211307585.html

[Robinia]

Sorry I don't know the answer matty, but I can't focus on them either! A friend who's about 50 metres away puts them up at xmas & I can't look them even at that distance.

[LoftyLottie]

Sorry, meant to say that it might be worth you seeing if yellow tinted sunglasses stopped what you are experiencing.

[beso]

The focal sytem of the eye has to compromise due to the different wavelengths in visible light. Blue light does not focus sharply.

[Robinia]

hello again Lottie...thanks for those links, all very technical but if I understand them correctly it's a good thing to not look at blue lights. Oddly enough I can't stand flourescent light in shops, offices (& my neighbour's house!) for very long either.
I know I need to have my eyes tested, it's just another of things I keep putting off.

[LoftyLottie]

Fluorescent lights are known to be bad for eyes Robinia. Years ago, I had to wear tinted glasses at college because of all the fluorescent lights. Apparently, the energy saving bulbs are the same!!

(I too need my eyes testing, and am putting it off!!)

[Robinia]

oh don't get me started on energy saving bulbs Lottie....grrrr...

sorry to drift off the topic matty!

[LoftyLottie]

I am slowly changing back to the old types (don't tell Mr LL!)

[Robinia]

hehe, I'm gradually squirrelling the old ones away. In fact I'll probably 'run out' before they do!

[matty2670]

Lofty - Thanks for the tip, I have some of those yellow night driving glasses so I'll give them a go. (I suffer from headlight glare too, perhaps a connection..?) Beso - Thanks for reassuring me there is something to it, and Robinia - I'm glad it's not just me! (This sounds like a bad Oscar acceptance speech...)

[LoftyLottie]

Matty. Thanks for your thanks! I was interested for personal reasons as I have a close relative with visual disturbance caused by various colours, lights, etc, (including headlight glare) and have been involved in witnessing various tests by medical research teams on this whole isssue. There have been lots more research in this area in recent years (under the umbrella of dyslexia).

Just interested in whether you suffer from migraine as well?

I hope your yellow night driving glasses help.

[matty2670]

Lofty - I have never suffered with migraine headaches. I also don't have dyslexia. I have however always suffered from the glare caused by oncoming car headlights which is why I occasionally wear those yellow night driving glasses as I read they can help. (It does seem to help on long night journeys.) As for the blue LED thing, it's only in recent years here in the UK (are you in the UK too?) that they've suddenly started appearing. It's a really weird sensation looking at them - they appear blurry and it's really uncomfortable to stare at them. To be honest I've not had my eyes tested for many years, probably about time I had them done again!

[LoftyLottie]

I wasn't suggesting that you had dyslexia matty - it's just that the person I spoke about was diagnosed with dyslexia when in fact they had visual disturbances caused by various lights and colour combinations. Only recently has it been realised that a lot of people have been wrongly diagnosed with dyslexia when they have similar problems.

Just wondered about the migraine because flashing lights of various sorts can cause them, and night driving can certainly trigger migraines for me.

[matty2670]

Don't worry, I wasn't offended!