RT Journal Article T1 Removal of the blue component of light significantly decreases retinal damage after high intensity exposure A1 Vicente-Tejedor, Javier A1 Marchena, Miguel A1 Ramírez, Laura A1 García Ayuso, Diego A1 Gómez Vicente, Violeta A1 Sánchez Ramos, Celia A1 Villa Polo, Pedro de la A1 Germain, Francisco AB Light causes damage to the retina (phototoxicity) and decreases photoreceptor responses to light. The most harmful component of visible light is the blue wavelength (400–500 nm). Different filters have been tested, but so far all of them allow passing a lot of this wavelength (70%). The aim of this work has been to prove that a filter that removes 94% of the blue component may protect the function and morphology of the retina significantly. Three experimental groups were designed. The first group was unexposed to light, the second one was exposed and the third one was exposed and protected by a blue-blocking filter. Light damage was induced in young albino mice (p30) by exposing them to white light of high intensity (5,000 lux) continuously for 7 days. Short wavelength light filters were used for light protection. The blue component was removed (94%) from the light source by our filter. Electroretinographical recordings were performed before and after light damage. Changes in retinal structure were studied using immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL labeling. Also, cells in the outer nuclear layer were counted and compared among the three different groups. Functional visual responses were significantly more conserved in protected animals (with the blue-blocking filter) than in unprotected animals. Also, retinal structure was better kept and photoreceptor survival was greater in protected animals, these differences were significant in central areas of the retina. Still, functional and morphological responses were significantly lower in protected than in unexposed groups. In conclusion, this blue-blocking filter decreases significantly photoreceptor damage after exposure to high intensity light. Actually, our eyes are exposed for a very long time to high levels of blue light (screens, artificial light LED, neons…). The potential damage caused by blue light can be palliated. PB Public Library Science SN 1932-6203 YR 2018 FD 2018-03-15 LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/12033 UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/12033 LA eng NO En O.A. en la web del editor.Received: August 9, 2017; Accepted: February 27, 2018; Published: March 15, 2018.© 2018 Vicente-Tejedor et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) NO Instituto de Salud Carlos III DS Docta Complutense RD 16 may 2024