The so-called eco-friendly LED lights may cause permanent damage to your eyes, a new research has claimed.
The study found that exposure to light-emitting diode (LED) lights can cause irreparable harm to the retina of the human eye.
Once the retina cells are destroyed by prolonged and continuous exposure to LED rays, they cannot be replaced and will not regrow, ThinkSpain.Com reported.
Researchers said this is caused by the high levels of radiation in the 'blue band', and is likely to become a global epidemic in the medium term given that computer, mobiles and TV screens, and even traffic and street lights, have been gradually replaced with LED.
Experts are calling for the lights to have built-in filters to cut out the blue glare.
Dr Celia Sanchez Ramos, investigator at Madrid's Complutense University, said the retina, a highly-sensitive tissue covering the eye, never regenerates itself once it has become damaged.
Ramos said LED lights are made up of rainbow longitude waves, and it is the blue part which causes the problem.
"LED is fantastic if there is adequate protection," she said.
Humans have their eyes open for around 6,000 hours a year, and most of this time they are exposed to artificial light - for which reason Ramos says the best way to prevent damage is to "close your eyes often to soften the impact".
She also said using good sunglasses with UV filter rays, and a healthy and varied diet rich in Vitamin A - which comes from spinach and peppers - will protect the eyes.
A human being's ability to store these pigments reduces with age, she said.
