5 ms·

Did we not already know about this ? I remember 5+ years ago blue LEDs were pulled off of the market (at least in France) because the spectrum they emit in is w

Did we not already know about this ? I remember 5+ years ago blue LEDs were pulled off of the market (at least in France) because the spectrum they emit in is way too close to uv and could burn your macula.

kypro 8y ago
Wait, is UV light bad for your eyes? Should I be careful about visiting bars with UV light too?
- kjullien 8y ago
  Yes, UV rays cause damage to pretty much any organic matter, that's the reason we wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and why cheap "fake" sunglasses can be harmful for your eyes (the glass is simply tinted and does not filter out the UVs, which is what they should be doing) edit: the way I remember it is that like any type of radiation, anything that goes into your body stays there pretty much until your death, the only way to keep your "uv capital" in good shape is to be proactive about it, cant do anything retroactively. This is why about 1/3rd of Australians will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime.
  - gomox 8y ago
    I just wanted to point out that most cheap (and therefore plastic) sunglasses are actually perfectly fine in terms of UV protection. Polycarbonate is UV opaque. If you Google this subject there are several websites where people went out and bought cheap an expensive sunglasses and had them tested and reached the same conclusion: UV protection does not justify expensive Raybans.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- MisterTea 8y ago
  Supposedly the intensity of a "black light", the UV emitting lamps found in clubs/bars/amusement attractions/etc are below the harmful threshold. I have never been comfortable in their presence as my eyes begin to fatigue and I experience discomfort. YMMV.
- avgDev 8y ago
  Black lights used in clubs generally don't have enough power to cause eye damage or sun burn, therefore, I would not be too concerned. Lights used in something like a tanning bed, can obviously burn your skin and also damage your eyes that is why people should wear eye protection, or do the healthy thing and not tan at all.
- btrettel 8y ago
  When I did research as an undergraduate, one of the MS students in the lab I was working in moved a powerful UV light used to cure glues from the corner of the room to the center and used it without putting a box over it as was standard procedure. Of course, he didn't look at the light himself, but he also didn't announce its use either. I saw the UV light as I was walking through the lab. It was basically a bright purple/blue light. Several hours later I was effectively blind due to pain, which continued for a few days. I basically had the equivalent of a bad sunburn on my eyes. This was one of several reasons I quit that lab. Since then I've avoided academic labs that have UV lights or lasers because I don't trust that the students follow safety procedures at all.

kypro 8y ago

Wait, is UV light bad for your eyes? Should I be careful about visiting bars with UV light too?

kjullien 8y ago
Yes, UV rays cause damage to pretty much any organic matter, that's the reason we wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and why cheap "fake" sunglasses can be harmful for your eyes (the glass is simply tinted and does not filter out the UVs, which is what they should be doing) edit: the way I remember it is that like any type of radiation, anything that goes into your body stays there pretty much until your death, the only way to keep your "uv capital" in good shape is to be proactive about it, cant do anything retroactively. This is why about 1/3rd of Australians will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime.
- gomox 8y ago
  I just wanted to point out that most cheap (and therefore plastic) sunglasses are actually perfectly fine in terms of UV protection. Polycarbonate is UV opaque. If you Google this subject there are several websites where people went out and bought cheap an expensive sunglasses and had them tested and reached the same conclusion: UV protection does not justify expensive Raybans.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
MisterTea 8y ago
Supposedly the intensity of a "black light", the UV emitting lamps found in clubs/bars/amusement attractions/etc are below the harmful threshold. I have never been comfortable in their presence as my eyes begin to fatigue and I experience discomfort. YMMV.
avgDev 8y ago
Black lights used in clubs generally don't have enough power to cause eye damage or sun burn, therefore, I would not be too concerned. Lights used in something like a tanning bed, can obviously burn your skin and also damage your eyes that is why people should wear eye protection, or do the healthy thing and not tan at all.
btrettel 8y ago
When I did research as an undergraduate, one of the MS students in the lab I was working in moved a powerful UV light used to cure glues from the corner of the room to the center and used it without putting a box over it as was standard procedure. Of course, he didn't look at the light himself, but he also didn't announce its use either. I saw the UV light as I was walking through the lab. It was basically a bright purple/blue light. Several hours later I was effectively blind due to pain, which continued for a few days. I basically had the equivalent of a bad sunburn on my eyes. This was one of several reasons I quit that lab. Since then I've avoided academic labs that have UV lights or lasers because I don't trust that the students follow safety procedures at all.