Which LED light is best for the eyes?

LED light is all the rage. The light-emitting diodes can now be found in almost every modern German household. If not on the ceiling or as light sources in floor lamps, then at least as light sources in the screens of smartphones, TVs and PCs.

And yes, LEDs have their place. With their excellent energy balance, they are in line with the spirit of the times, which calls for resource-saving behavior. The fact is: LEDs consume up to 80 % less energy than lighting solutions from the 1960s.

But there is a problem.

As beautiful as LED light is, it can also be harmful. Especially for the eyes. This is because the blue light from LEDs passes through the cornea of the human eye almost unhindered. And this in turn can trigger inflammatory processes.

Blue light hits the eye

But there is a solution that can be less harmful to the eyes: Glasses with an integrated blue light filter. Or even special computer glasses.

Study: Is LED light harmful?

Scientists at the Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris wanted to find out that LED light is not ideal for the eyes. They used a study with three groups of rats rats. The first group was exposed to light from LED light sources. The second group was exposed to conventional light bulbs - as you may remember them from your childhood. And the third group moved around in the light of fluorescent tubes.

The results are astonishing - and sobering. At a high light intensity of 6,000 lux, all three light sources led to inflammatory processes in the rats. This inflammation is said to have promoted the death of the photoreceptors.

Fortunately, such bright lighting conditions do not usually prevail indoors. Here, a light intensity of 500 lux is normal. So the study was also carried out with all three light sources at a light intensity of 500 lux. The result here: only the LED lamps affected the rats' retinas.

Trials with humans are still pending. Nevertheless, there are already findings that allow LED light to be better classified: The blue light from an LED passes through the cornea unhindered. This in turn can lead to an overproduction of proteins. This overproduction can in turn trigger an inflammatory process in the macula. You are probably familiar with it under the name "yellow spot". It is located at the back of the eye in the middle of the retina.

Normal eye and eye with macular degeneration

So far. So bad. But what happens next?

In the worst case, the inflammation leads to the death of photoreceptors and a loss of vision. But the pigment cells of the retina are also damaged. Such processes are indeed common in old age. The only problem is that LED light can accelerate these processes - and set them in motion unnecessarily early. This is particularly possible if the people affected sit in front of a computer screen a lot, which is also set to an extremely bright level.

One solution: filter out the blue light component

In the worst case, the blue light from LEDs can lead to inflammation in the eye and loss of vision. Cold white LED light appears to be particularly harmful. In contrast, warm white light from an LED source is said to be less harmful to the eyes. A targeted switch to warm-white LEDs is therefore a first measure. And an option for you if you want to reduce blue light in your environment.

But what about the screens of smartphones and PCs? Here, the permanently installed LEDs cannot simply be replaced with warm white LEDs.

Filtering blue light with blueblocker glasses

The solution here can be a Blueblocker glasses or Blueblocker clip-ons or glasses with a blue light filter. They can reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration at an early stage. We have two different types of Blueblocker glasses in our range. Take a look at them.

LED light is everywhere - what you can do

LED lighting has become an integral part of our lives. So you won't be able to escape it. However, there are a few steps you can take to protect your eyes.

LED spectrum - tablet, smartphone, TV, LCD

First of all, always prefer natural daylight to artificial light. Instead of switching on an LED in your room, simply draw the curtains and let the sunlight in. This is much more economical than any LED - it's free. And the daylight corresponds to your natural biorhythm. Because your body is set to the natural day-night rhythm. And natural light is the best way to match it.

In the evening or at night, you cannot rely on natural light. Artificial lighting must therefore be used here. Ideally, use warm white LEDs, which contain less blue light than other LEDs.

If you spend a lot of time on your PC or smartphone - especially in the evening and before going to bed - activate the night mode on your devices. This mode deactivates some of the blue light and makes the display appear more yellow. If you want to go one step further, wear blue blocker glasses in the evening. They can filter up to 100 percent of the blue light from your surroundings. And also from the LED displays.

Last but not least: when buying light bulbs, pay attention to their Kelvin value. Ok, this may sound like nasty physics, but it's quickly explained. So pay attention. The Kelvin value indicates the color temperature of a light source. The rule of thumb is: the higher the Kelvin value, the higher the proportion of blue light in the light source. You can recognize warm white LEDs, for example, by a Kelvin value below 3,300

Interesting to know: Red light can be good for the eyes

Warm white light can be the best light for your eyes. But so can red light, as a study from 2020 suggests. Neuroscientist Glen Jeffery, Professor at the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London, and his team found evidence that you can help the counteract the loss of vision by looking at red light for a few minutes a day.

Research findings suggest that regular exposure of the eyes to deep red light can improve vision in people over 40. A three-minute exposure of the eyes per day could be ideal - preferably directly after getting up in the morning. But be careful: don't repeat the experiment by randomly looking at any red lights. There is red light that not suitable for this. For example, the red light that you know from laser pointers. LED flashlights with red light with a wavelength of 670 nanometers were used for the experiment.