Dec 29th, 2009
Preliminary research has shown that
amber colored lenses, which block blue light, can help regulate the mood
of those suffering from bipolar disorder, insomnia, sleep deprivation
as well as other maladies. Jim Phelps, M.D., from Corvallis, Oregon, is
a pioneer in the field and has written extensively on the subject.
In
an abstract from his study titled “Dark Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
Using Amber Lenses for Blue Light Blockade”, Dr. Phelps writes that
“Dark Therapy”, a treatment that uses total darkness to stabilize mood
in those with bipolar disorder, is supported in several studies. This
is basically the opposite of light therapy for depression.
Recent
evidence on circadian rhythm in humans suggests that total darkness may
be achievable by blocking wavelengths of blue light. Amber-tinted
lenses in safety glasses block these wavelengths from reaching the eye
and have shown to keep nocturnal melatonin levels normal in a light
environment which totally suppresses the making of melatonin otherwise.
Therefore, circadian rhythms in humans might be able to be impacted by
wearing amber tinted lenses at night. This would help take away the
negative impact of light generated from computer screens, florescent
lights including those found at Target, and the new fluorescent compacts
in your home by creating “total darkness”.
Amber-tinted
safety glasses block blue light transmission, but there are other ways
of blocking blue light as well. The key to success is not to allow blue
light into your visual field. Sporty wraparound sunglasses work well
too and can be worn indoors as well as out. These fit close to your
face. Most of these glasses have slits along the inner edge of the
frame to prevent fog from building up on the inside of your lenses.
Some of these sunglasses have interchangeable lenses so you can have an
amber tinted lens custom made for your glasses and when you’re not using
it you can replace it with your sunglasses lens. Custom lenses can be
made for less then $50. It is possible that amber colored contact
lenses would be equally effective, but it is important that you consult
your doctor before trying them.
In order to find out
how your eyes would look if you wore amber colored lenses you can go to a
stock images site online. The search tools on their site can quickly
pull-up the image you want, if it is in their data base. Be specific in
your description in order to have the greatest chance as possible to
find what you’re looking for.
If darkness can be
created by amber lenses, many medical conditions could be positively
affected by their use, such as those suffering from insomnia, sleep
deprived nursing mothers, and those with rapid cycling bipolar disorder.
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