Continued study of the requirements of sunglasses standards for the effective ocular safety

• Grant number: 18/16275-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: August 01, 2019 - March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Medical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liliane Ventura Schiabel
• Grantee: Liliane Ventura Schiabel
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

AbstractThe study of blue light and its sun protection in sunglasses is the target of this study. The standards for sunglasses establish the parameters of ocular protection of for ultraviolet rays, but although the literature has advised about the doses associated with the effects of blue light, there is no required item in the sunglasses standards yet.In the process of wearing sunglasses, the pupil dilates, and the natural protection of the eye to the blue light is voided, so that a greater dose of blue light enters the eye than if one did not make use of the sunglasses.One of the limits established in the literature is that the average transmittance of blue light in the 380-500 nm range should not exceed 1.2 times the average transmittance of light in the visible range, 380 - 780 nm, on sunglasses, in a homogeneous scanning region, of 40 mm in diameter. This scanning spot is important and strongly requested in the standards because it is where the pupil is directed to the various sides for observation. Therefore, scanning spectroscopy measurements on sunglasses, as required by the standards, will be carried out and assessments on these limits will be made. Additionally, in preliminary studies in our laboratory, there is evidence of changes in the lens material of sunglasses, with the aging of them. Also, in a conducted national survey, Brazilians purchases new sunglasses every 2 years in average. Therefore, the sunglasses will be irradiated in a solar simulator for a period equivalent to 2 years and the verification of the transmittance of the blue after this procedure will be carried out to evaluate if the aging of the material can alter the compliance of the samples. By this study, we intend to suggest inclusion of requirements in relation to the blue wavelength in the sunglasses standard, ISO12312-1: 2015, which we are collaborating with. Our greatest concern is to be able to have requirements in the standard that protect the Brazilian ocular health, since we use this European standard as a mirror.Additionally, in the process of aging the samples, other tests will be performed: resistance to impact and the transmission spectroscopy of other wavelengths will be studied to evaluate the conditions of our sunglasses, in relation to the traffic light test required by the standard. Last, but not least important, a prototype for public use at EESC-USP will be developed for testing sunglasses regarding blue and traffic lights (sunglasses' compliance for driving). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GOMES, LEONARDO MARIANO; MASILI, MAURO; VENTURA, LILIANE; HENRIQUES, J; NEVES, N; DECARVALHO, P. Analysis of the Effect of Natural and Simulated Sun Exposure on Sunglasses Lenses: A Study on Materials Degradation. XV MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING - MEDICON 2019, v. 76, p. 11-pg., 2020-01-01. (18/16275-2)

LOUREIRO, ARTUR D.; VENTURA, LILIANE. Are sunglasses appropriate for driving? Investigation and prototype for public testing. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ONLINE, v. 20, n. 1, APR 29 2021. (18/16275-2, 14/16938-0)

LOUREIRO, ARTUR D.; VENTURA, LILIANE; HENRIQUES, J; NEVES, N; DECARVALHO, P. Device for Measuring Protection in Sunglasses Against Harmful Blue Light. XV MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING - MEDICON 2019, v. 76, p. 4-pg., 2020-01-01. (18/16275-2)