Ocular hazards of blue-light therapy in dermatology.

Blue-light phototherapy has become important in the treatment of many dermatologic conditions and as a result continue to be developed. Although blue-light therapy is successful, research shows that excessive ocular blue-light exposure may contribute to age-related macular degeneration and other vision problems. As blue-light therapy becomes increasingly more popular for clinical and at-home use, patients and operators of blue-light devices should be aware of its associated ocular hazards. Protective eyewear should be carefully selected and implemented with each therapy session to guard against the development of retinal disease.
(Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)