Salus University Partners with Eyesafe on Blue Light and Screen Time Program and Announces Release of Eye Care Handbook for the Consumer Electronics Industry
Elkins Park, Pa. – Salus University, one of the world’s premier schools of optometry, and Eyesafe, a global leader in high-energy visible blue light filtration technology and standards for the consumer electronics industry, have partnered in a research project to study the eye and health impacts of cumulative exposure to high-energy blue light from devices, and to announce the release of the first-ever comprehensive handbook on the health hazards and protective solutions related to blue light for the electronics display industry.
The research aims to better understand the impacts of exposure to cumulative blue light emissions from digital displays on human eyes and health and will be conducted to inform the world’s development of future display technology and industry standards. Titled How to Save Your Eyes in the Digital Age, the handbook features leading optometrists, ophthalmologists and scientists researching an array of topics related to the health impacts of blue light and the proactive steps the electronics industry can take to tackle this emerging public health issue that affects more than 5 billion people worldwide.
“Screen time and exposure to blue light are important issues that merit deliberate investigation,” said Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dean of Research at Salus University. “Our agreement signed brings together the global leader in blue light filtration technology and standards with a leading college of optometry to study and issue with near universal impacts. We are pleased that Eyesafe has chosen Salus as its research partner for continued study of this important health issue.”
The release of How to Save Your Eyes in the Digital Age was made Oct. 10 and designed to coincide with World Sight Day, an annual event that focuses global attention on blindness and vision impairment.
The signing of the agreement to conduct further research on the impact of blue light emissions from electronic displays on the human eye was done Oct. 10 at a ceremony at Salus University in which Eyesafe CEO Justin Barrett was joined by Dr. Scheiman and Salus President Michael H. Mittelman, OD, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE.
“We are pleased to host Eyesafe and the distinguished contributors who worked together to bring this important, in-depth look at this emerging issue in eye care to fruition, and we look forward to this important research collaboration,” said Dr. Mittelman. “We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of our founding college, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, this year at Salus, and joint research programs like the one announced with Eyesafe today are a testament to our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our institution continues to stay on the leading edge of eye health.”
The growing crescendo of concern among eye care professionals, lawmakers and regulators, the media and the public in general about the dangers of blue light was the impetus for Eyesafe’s decision to bring together leading doctors to talk about HEV blue light in one unified handbook. Eyesafe partnered with leaders in consumer electronics including Dell and ZAGG, the world’s leading screen-protector company, to provide protective light filtration solutions and standards for customers.
“For the first time, leading optometrists, ophthalmologists and light scientists, researchers and policy specialists have come together to ‘write a book’ on the hazards and solutions for managing blue light emissions,” said Barrett. “This is a serious public health issue and today marks a pivotal moment in the industry’s efforts to better protect us all in the digital age.”
About Salus University
Salus University, founded as the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1919, today is a diversified, globally recognized professional academic center of learning that offers a wide range of degree programs in the professions of Optometry, Audiology, Physician Assistant, Public Health, Blindness and Low Vision Studies, Biomedicine, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology. Salus operates four clinical facilities in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties that provide highly specialized vision, hearing and balance, and speech-language pathology services. The University has more than 1,200 students, and more than 14,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, please visit w w w .sal us.e du. Salus is currently celebrating a century of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, its founding school. For more information about the legacy, please visit w w w .salus. edu /centenn ial .
About Eyesafe®
Eyesafe, formerly Healthe, is a worldwide supplier of Eyesafe® technology, Eyesafe® display, and Eyesafe® standards, a suite of pioneering products and services shaping the consumer electronics industry’s understanding of device usage, screen time, and the impacts of blue light-emitting devices. Eyesafe® technology and the associated intellectual property portfolio was developed by a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers and scientists with decades of experience in electronics, display materials, and light management. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Eyesafe works to develop technologies and standards in conjunction with leaders in healthcare. To learn more about Eyesafe® technology, please visit Eyesafe.com. Eyesafe®, RPF™, and Retina Protection Factor are registered trademarks of Healthe.
Salus University
Contact: Alexis Abate 267.318.0351