Turn your lights on

Researchers from the U.K. suggest that a condition known as diabetic retinopathy might be avoided by sleeping with the lights on. But they add that more studies are needed to prove that their bright idea can actually save sight.

New research supports the theory that hours of complete darkness increases retinal damage from diabetes–and that sleeping with some lights on could help counter the effect.

More at: Issue 112 Item 3 Night-Light May Prevent Diabetic Eye Damage

It has been postulated that diabetic retinopathy might be initiated by hypoxia during the hours of darkness. Oscillatory potentials, which reflect inner retinal function, are reduced in diabetic patients. We tested the effect of oxygen inhalation on the amplitude of these oscillatory potentials after dark adaptation in seven patients with type 2 diabetes and eight controls. We found that the decreased oscillatory potentials induced by dark adaptation in the diabetic patients increased during oxygen inhalation to an amplitude that was not significantly different from that of the controls before oxygen. Oscillatory potentials in the controls were unaffected by oxygen. This finding strengthens support for the suggestion that diabetic patients might benefit from sleeping with night-time illumination.

(Abstract from:
Drasdo N, Chiti Z, Owens DR, North RV.,
Effect of darkness on inner retinal hypoxia in diabetes
Lancet. 2002 Jun 29;359(9325):2251-3.)

:stupido2: