Abstract
Light of short wavelengths has been shown to play a key role in non-image forming responses. Due to aging, the ocular lens becomes more yellow reducing the transmission of short wavelengths in the elderly. In the present study, we make use of cataract surgery to investigate the effects of a relative increase of short wavelength transmission on melatonin- and sleep-wake rhythms (N = 14). We observed, on average, a delay of the sleep-wake and the nocturnal melatonin rhythms after cataract surgery. This delay is tentatively attributed to a relatively large increase of light transmittance in the evening hours more than an increase of the already relatively high light intensities found in the daytime. The later phase that we observed after cataract surgery (clear lens) as compared to the earlier phase observed before cataract (yellowish lens) is in agreement with the general later phase reported in the young (clear lens) population.
Highlights
Humans display a multitude of circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior, each with their own specific timing with respect to day and night
The spectral composition of light has been shown to be critical for these so-called non-image forming (NIF)
Short wavelengths in particular are of importance for inducing these responses [1,2,3,4,5,6]. This is related to the role of the photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells containing the blue-sensitive pigment melanopsin. pRGCs connect directly with suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) neurons [7,8,9,10]
Summary
Humans display a multitude of circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior, each with their own specific timing with respect to day and night. SCN in turn is entrained to the systematic 24-h variations of the environment In humans, this is almost exclusively achieved by daily adjustments through exposure to the light-dark cycle. Short wavelengths (circa 460–480 nm) in particular are of importance for inducing these responses [1,2,3,4,5,6]. This is related to the role of the photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs) containing the blue-sensitive pigment melanopsin. This is related to the role of the photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs) containing the blue-sensitive pigment melanopsin. pRGCs connect directly with SCN neurons [7,8,9,10]
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