Does sunlight affect macular degeneration?
Yes. It has been demonstrated that the blue rays of the spectrum seem to accelerate macular degeneration more than other rays of the spectrum. This means that very intense light, such as sunlight or its reflection off of bright surfaces may worsen macular degeneration. Regular sunglasses with UV protection and dark neutral density lenses or lenses that also block out the blue end of the spectrum (for those who spend a great deal of time outdoors) may reduce the likelihood of developing and progression of the disease. Again, more research is needed in this area.
