Professor John Marshall warns of low-energy bulb risks

Dangers to the eyes from low-energy light bulbs have been highlighted in a Daily Mail health scare article (May 13) which warns that the bulbs could lead to blindness and skin cancer.

Professor John Marshall, reported to have stockpiled incandescent light bulbs, is quoted as saying that he would urge manufacturers to get rid of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), pointing out the damage the rays at the short spectrum could cause to human eyes and skin.

Speaking to Optician, Professor Marshall, who lectured on blue light dangers at Optrafair London, explained that patient groups concerned with problems such as headaches and effects of CFLs had raised interest in the dangers, but stressed that he would not use the word blindness in that context. ‘Low energy light sources have blue and UV components that do not in any way help in vision. They are redundant in vision and the shorter higher-energy wavelengths give rise to photochemical damage. These are not going to cause AMD and cataract but they are certainly potential risk factors. If you don’t need it why expose people to the risk of it?’