[Retinal hazard from blue light emitting diode]

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effect of exposure time from a blue(460 nm) light emitting diode(LED) on the morphology of the outer retina and determine conditions where damage occurs.

Materials and methods: Young adult rhesus monkeys were anesthetized, and received blue LED exposure from a modified slit-lamp. A 3 mm beam of 0.85 mW was imaged onto the retina through a lens positioned before the cornea and exposure damage was determined at time intervals for 12 to 90 min. Fundus photography, fluorescein angiography(FAG), retinal tomography(HRT), and s-cone electororetinogram(S-ERG) were recorded at baseline, 2, and 30 days.

Results: Two days after 40 min exposure, there was a grey, discolored region, which was over-fluorescent in FAG, and an incresse in HRT and S-ERG corresponding to the site which was exposed to LED light. In histological examination at 30 days, the LED had caused produced a marked disruption of the disks of photoreceptor cells, damaged retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) apical villi, and a loss of RPE melanin after 90 min exposure.

Conclusion: A threshold level was found around 40 min. This morphological damage may impair function and continuous exposure to blue light is potentially dangerous to vision.