A friend of mine, who is paranoid about everything, recently told me that fluorescent lights cause cataracts. Everything I’ve read about these lights before talks about them glowingly–they’re so energy efficient I should replace every lamp in my home with fluorescent bulbs. And of course I and millions of other people toil under them for most of our waking hours every day. Are we all going to go blind? Why have I not heard about these harmful effects before? Is my paranoid friend nuts too, or is there some conspiracy to keep this information out of the press and away from the general public? –Mary M.Q.C., Chicago
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
If there is, my payoff from the Bulb Trust must have gotten lost in the mail. The reason you haven’t heard much about the dangers of fluorescent lighting is that there isn’t much to hear. No study has ever established a link between fluorescent lights and cataracts, and there haven’t been many studies period. While fears about the bulbs aren’t entirely groundless, right now the danger is strictly theoretical.
Just one thing–make sure your sunglasses block UV light. A cheesy pair that blocks only visible light could make things worse. The reduced visible light will cause your pupils to dilate, allowing the UV to pour in. To avoid frying your lenses like an egg, make sure any sunglasses you buy have a tag or label that says they block UV.
Glad to be of service. Cecil feels obliged from time to time to correct the misunderstandings of his readers. The smart ones are grateful.
