October 29, 2019, Minneapolis MN, TÜV Rheinland and Eyesafe held the first 2019 Blue Light Summit during two live broadcast on-line webinars. Over forty manufacturers from the largest consumer electronics device firms attended representing fourteen nations across the globe.
The 2019 Blue Light Summit included a review of blue light health issues, the latest guiding industry research involving blue light standards, certifications and solutions. World-recognized doctors of optometry and ophthalmology along with industry authorities shared the latest research information from the industry handbook, How to Save Your Eyes in the Digital Age and provided information and guidance on the design, development and certification of healthier display products.
The 2019 Blue Light Summit also provided attendees with insights to the health issues affecting our lives while on digital displays. These include risks to children’s eyes, sleep disruption, digital eye strain, dry eye issues, long term effects on retinal health, psychological effects, cognition performance impacts and accelerated aging effects.
Also covered was the announcement on October 10, 2019 of the State of California Blue Light Resolution SCR73 which passed the California State Legislature and Assembly designating that day as Blue Light Awareness Day each year. The resolution introduced by Senator Dr. Richard Pan and was passed unanimously. The resolution encouraged all Californians to “consider taking protective safety measures in reducing eye exposure to high-energy visible blue light”.
Eyesafe, led by Justin Barrett, CEO, shared the announcement of their new partnership with Salus University one of the preeminent Optometric teaching institutions in Philadelphia, PA involving Screen Time Research and Standards collaboration. The research partnership will focus on the health effects of blue light on the eye, visual system and overall health and wellness and will drive additional research guiding the development of Eyesafe industry standards. “We believe bringing our leading OD’s and MD’s to the forefront of this important research with Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, OD at Salus will help create new guidelines and standards original display manufacturer’s can avail themselves to designing the safest blue light filtering displays possible,” said Mr. Barrett.
TÜV Rheinland spokesperson, Stanley Liu, serving as Technical Competence Center Director provided an overview and announced new certification services for Eyesafe Displays. “We are announcing new industry marks representing health and safety for manufacturers keyed upon efficacy protection from blue light while maintaining color quality. These new brand marks will identify displays which have achieved the highest Eyesafe Standards in digital displays. The Eyesafe display criteria is open to all manufacturers who wish to have their products certified as Eyesafe displays”, said Mr. Liu.
During the week of Nov. 5-10, 2019, TÜV Rheinland and Eyesafe will be attending the China International Import Exposition in Shanghai, CN where they will be showcasing and discussing the Eyesafe display requirements as well as providing opportunities for manufacturers to engage with representatives to learn further about the new certification standards and research underway.
For more information on the 2019 Blue Light summit please see www.bluelightsummit.com