The dangers of reflected light

In addition to the dangers of direct sunlight, there is another risk about which we pay little attention: reflected light. This was pointed out by Gaetano Zipoli, professor of research at the National Research Center’s Institute of Biometeorology. He emphasized that “the blue light that reaches the surface of the eyes is at its maximum when we least expect it, especially in highly reflective environments’’.

On a vertical surface (such as the eyes of a person standing), at the beginning of April values are already at maximum levels, especially in these highly reflective environments.

According to Zipoli, in these conditions “the rays can be eight times higher than the threshold limit for the onset of cataract and photokeratitis’’.

During the presentation of the research to the Commissione Difesa Vista, Prof. Zipoli gave a complete picture of the effects and risks of incorrect exposure.

He pointed out that those particularly at risk are children and the elderly who have undergone cataract operations. In these environmental conditions, “the amount of radiation reaching the retina is much higher if the crystalline lens is not protected effectively’’.

Zipoli concluded, “Thanks to new types of individual dosimeters and models for calculating the UV/blue radiation of surfaces (even when it is partly screened by direct light), it is now possible to identify more precisely the conditions and the locations which correspond to greater health risks”.