Differential protective effects of blue light (BL)-exposed retinal pigment epithelial cells by selective BL-filtering lenses.

Blue light (BL) is harmful to eye posterior segment structures. It induces accelerated retina aging and the progression of retinal diseases. We reported that BL is cytotoxic to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell through oxidative damage. Herein, we investigated the potential of selective BL-filtering intraocular lenses (BL-IOL) to mitigate these deleterious effects. Human RPE cells were exposed to BL in the absence or presence of a panel of BL-IOLs having different pigment compositions and BL-filtering potentials. Cells were analyzed for their oxidative status (levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM)), and growth (proliferation, metabolic activity and viability). Exposure of RPE cells to BL significantly increased the levels of cellular ROS and mitochondrial superoxide anion. While these effects did not affect cell proliferation, they triggered a collapse of the ΔΨM, a decrease in cell metabolic activity and an increase of cell death. Independent of the BL-IOL used in the BL beam, there was a drop in oxidative stress and ensuing protection of cells from the BL-mediated cytotoxic effects. Notably, BL-IOL with higher filtration potential of high-energy BL provided better photoprotection to exposed cells. This study highlights the need to selectively filter BL radiation wavelengths from light reaching the eye. It will help to define the best filtering devices to prevent RPE cell damage and eye posterior segment structure-related disease progression, such as during age-related macular degeneration.