Will the increased use of ring lights during the coronavirus pandemic lead to a growing burden of macular degeneration?

Jessica Stanhope; Philip Weinstein

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2023.111064

Will the increased use of ring lights during the coronavirus pandemic lead to a growing burden of macular degeneration?

Med Hypotheses. 2023 Jun:175:111064. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2023.111064. Epub 2023 Mar 28.

Authors

Jessica Stanhope¹, Philip Weinstein²

Affiliations

¹ School of Allied Health Science and Practice, The University of Adelaide, North Tce, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
² School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, North Tce, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.

Abstract

The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has brought with it many changes in the way with live, work, and socialise. One such change is an increase in the use of videoconferencing for communication with friends, family and work colleagues, and doing presentations, while physically distancing. We demonstrate an increase in the use of ring lights during the pandemic, and argue that this increased exposure to blue light may lead to a growing burden of macular degeneration in coming years.

Keywords: Blue light; Macular degeneration; Occupational health; Pandemic; Ring lights.