Through animal experiments using chicks and clinical research on humans, a research group led by Assistant Professor Hidenari Torii of Keio University discovered for the first time in the world that purple light (violet light) suppresses the progression of myopia.
Currently, the world's myopia population continues to grow and is projected to reach about 2050 billion by 50.Although several epidemiological studies and animal experiments have pointed out that the outdoor environment suppresses the progression of myopia, the factors and mechanisms that suppress the progression of myopia have not been clarified.
The research group focused on 360-400 nanometer violet light, which is abundant in the outdoor environment, and proceeded with research using chicks that have been established as experimental myopia models.As a result, the progression of myopia in chicks exposed to violet light was suppressed, and the gene (EGR1) known to suppress the progression of myopia in the eyes was elevated.This clarified the possibility that EGR1 is involved in the mechanism by which violet light suppresses the progression of myopia.
Also, from clinical studies, the progression of myopia is suppressed in people who use contact lenses that transmit violet light more than those who use contact lenses and eyeglasses that do not transmit violet light. It was suggested that myopia progressed when using.Furthermore, it was found that lighting such as LEDs and fluorescent lamps that are currently used on a daily basis contains almost no violet light, and materials such as eyeglasses and glass hardly allow violet light to pass through.This suggests that modern society lacks violet light, which may be related to the global increase in myopia.
The results of this research are expected to help stop the future increase in the myopia population through the elucidation of the onset and progression mechanism of myopia and the development of new therapies.
