Overview

• Dr. Saurabh Sethi cautions that blue light from night lights can disrupt circadian rhythms and eye development, potentially increasing the risk of myopia in children.
• He explains that blue light penetrates closed eyelids, stimulating melanopsin cells and causing the eyes to grow too long, leading to blurry distance vision.
• Dr. Sethi advises parents to use blackout curtains, avoid blue or white night lights, and opt for dim red lights placed away from the bed if necessary.
• While early studies, including a 1999 Scheie Eye Institute study, suggested a possible link between night lighting and myopia, no definitive scientific evidence has been established.
• Myopia, a common childhood vision condition, is influenced by genetics and outdoor activity, with corrective options like glasses, contact lenses, and surgery available.