Table 3. Interaction of light with eye tissues and chromophores

Tissue/ molecule	Wavelength (nm)	Mechanism	Consequence
Notes: RPE = retinal pigment epithelium; SWS = short wavelength sensitive cones (blue); MWS = medium wavelength sensitive cones (green); LWS = long wavelength sensitive cones (red); and AMD = age-related macular degeneration.
Cornea	<300 and >800	Heat dissipation	Keratitis, droplet keratopathy
Iris	Melanin: 380-700	Heat dissipation
Lens	Peak at 365 at 8 years Peak at 450 at 65 years	Heat dissipation	Cataract (nuclear and/or cortical)
Retina	400-700 Rhodopsin: 507 SWS: 450 MWS: 530 LWS: 580	Photochemical damage type I: max at 507 nm type II: max at shorter wavelengths Toxicity potential	Solar retinitis Maculopathy Aggravation of retinopathy
RPE	Melanin: 380-700	Heat dissipation	Potentiation of lipofuscin toxicity (melanolipofuscin)
Lipofuscin	355-450 A2E: peak at 430-440	Photodynamic effect Retinal toxicity	Solar retinitis Age-related maculopathy (probable) Aggravation of retinopathy
Xantophylle pigments	Lutein: 446 Xanthine 455 Zeaxanthine 480	Heat dissipation	Reduced blue light toxicity Protects against AMD

 

Source: SCENIHR, Health effects of artificial light, 19 March 2012,
 3.4.3 Biological effects, pp. 31-38.