PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Nine out of 10 people experience light sensitivity according to “Sensitivity to Light,” a white paper recently published by Transitions Optical. The white paper joins a suite of resources available from Transitions Optical which can be found on www.TransitionsPRO.com/LightManagement. “Understanding how light uniquely impacts each individual’s eye and daily life is imperative to providing the best vision care,” said Cecile Doussinault, category and insight director, Transitions Optical. “To see well, lenses need to manage light. With this knowledge, professionals can prescribe Transitions lenses, optimum light intelligent solution for each patient to enhance their satisfaction and protect their eyes.”

The white paper provides an in-depth look at how light impacts patients and how eyecare professionals can assess patients’ light sensitivity. Key takeaways from the research include:

• A holistic approach that considers both the dimensions of light and how the eye interacts with light is essential to understanding a person’s sensitivity to light and its impact on their daily life.

• A person’s sensitivity to light can manifest throughout their day and affect them physically, emotionally, professionally and socially.

• Our modern light environments impede the defense mechanisms of the eye to cope with glare, causing discomfort and disability.

• Each light environment is a particular combination of four measurable dimensions of light—intensity, spatial, temporal, and spectrum—and have a unique interaction with our eyes and brain, but there are six light situations people report as most troublesome.

• Professionals can assess a person’s sensitivity to light by asking questions about their daily life related to the most troublesome light situations as well as conducting a lifestyle and medical questionnaire.

Authors of the white paper include Anne Catherine Scherlen, senior scientist, R&D Light Management, Essilor International; Coralie Barrau, senior scientist photobiology, R&D Light Management, Essilor International; Pascale Tardieu, associate director of innovation, Transitions Optical; and Chris King, global marketing manager, Transitions Optical.