Can a vitamin product protect kids’ eyes from a tablet’s blue light? ABC News – Meredith Griffiths interviews Dr Shanel Sharma Paediatric Ophthalmologist

Experts say emissions from mobile phones and tablets are “low intensity”. (Credit: ABC)

Vitamin companies are peddling “ludicrous” claims about products that protect children’s eyes from the blue light emitted by digital devices, according to doctors.

Ads for the dietary supplements suggest they can “guard” or “shield” children’s eyes from “high energy” blue light.

However the organisation that represents eye doctors, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, said there was no scientific evidence that blue light was damaging to the eye or caused disease.

“The idea that a vitamin might stop blue light absorption to me is ludicrous,” the college’s Dr Shanel Sharma said.

What is blue light?

Blue light refers to a specific range of the visible light spectrum. It can come from artificial sources such as computers, torches and lasers, but Dr Sharma said most of it came from sunlight.

Can vitamins protect the eye?

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists said the only evidence of vitamins helping eye health applied to the aging-related condition macular degeneration.

Can devices harm children’s eyes?

Dr Sharma said there was some evidence that children may become short-sighted, develop myopia, if they hold screens at distances less than 30 centimetre for sustained periods of time, but she said vitamins would not protect against that.

She said parents should worry more about UV sunlight than blue light. UV light can damage the eye and most of that harm occurs before a person turns 18.

“So if parents are worried about protecting their children’s eyesight they should be putting properly protective sunglasses on them,” Dr Sharma said.

For Full article: ABC News Children’s eyes and Blue light