A burst of orange light wakes up our 'circadian eye' (2024)

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A burst of orange light wakes up our 'circadian eye'? ›

Feeling dopey? Refresh your “circadian eye” with a burst of orange light. Light is a powerful wake-up call, enhancing alertness and activity. Its effect is controlled by a group of photoreceptor cells in the eyeball that make the light-sensing pigment melanopsin.

Who needs coffee in the morning when you can just shine an orange light in your eyes? A team of European scientists has shown that exposure to an orange light improves alertness and cognitive brain function.

Exposing the eyes to blue light (or white light, which includes blue light) during the sensitive periods triggers photoreceptors in the retina to send a signal to suppress melatonin and shift circadian rhythms. These photoreceptors do not respond to red light and minimally respond to yellow and orange light.

The researchers speculate that melanopsin serves as a sort of switch, cueing the brain to when it's time to be more or less alert. Prior research has shown that orange light tends to make melanopsin more sensitive which appears to suggest it serves as a signal to the brain, that it's time to be more alert.

Orange light can help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, boost collagen production, reduce inflammation, and stimulate circulation. It has been shown to bring vitality to dull and lifeless complexions. An orange light is good for bringing a glow to the skin for special occasions.

Does Orange Light Actually Work? Yes, about 70 studies show that orange light works for many different goals. More higher-quality studies are needed, though, especially with human participants.

Especially an orange-sunset red, warm and rich and extremely calming. This is the perfect nuance to stimulate the Circadian Rhythm, probably because it reminds us of the natural sunset (time to go to bed without artificial lights).

Blue light and bright lights promote alertness, wakefulness, and inhibit the secretion of melatonin. Ideally before bedtime, you should not turn on all the lights in your house.

The source of light could be artificial, such as a full spectrum lamp at 10,000 lux or portable visor at lower light intensity or, when reliably available at the right time, natural outdoor light. Longer properly timed light exposure is better, with recommended exposure duration of 30-90 minutes.

During daylight hours, we are exposed to blue light from the sun, which helps boost our attention, reaction times and mood while synchronizing our body's circadian cycle.

What are the negative effects of orange light? ›

Blue light, for instance, can keep you from sleeping and create eye damage. Orange light can make you tired if you overdo it and is unsafe when paired with cancer. In case of cancer, some experts believe that orange, red, and near infrared light can potentially spread them throughout the body (23; 24).

On the plus side, people often associated orange with optimism, confidence, enthusiasm, warmth, and agreeableness. Because it is a bright and vivacious color, it may help people feel outgoing or even bold. On the negative side, it may bring to mind feelings of superficiality, arrogance, or pride.

The color increases oxygen to the brain, which stimulates mental activity and creativity. Orange is another highly visible color, so you'll often see companies using orange to advertise toys and food products. But the eye-catching color also signals caution.

Specifically, the study notes that a little exposure to orange light can increase a person's brain activity and result in a boost to one's alertness. A team from the University of Liege began with the theory that light can be a powerful tool used to affect the brain.

Light switch

Vandewalle thinks that melanopsin is acting as a kind of switch, sending different signals to the brain depending on its state. Orange light, which has the longer wavelength, is known to make the pigment more light-sensitive, but blue light has the opposite effect.

Citrus fruits like oranges are very beneficial for your eyes, as they contain vitamin C. As per reports, one can have better eyesight for a long time with regular orange consumption. Studies show that eating oranges can help with avoiding a condition called macular degeneration.

Studies have shown that warm white or soft white lights in the 2700K-3000K (Kelvin) range can help reduce eye strain and improve sleep quality, making them the perfect choice for cozy reading nooks and bedroom study sessions.

The macula of the eye is the central part of the retina, and it can degrade as we get older. Even if AMD has already begun, consuming oranges may help slow it down. They found that eating as little as one orange per day can reduce the risk of AMD by up to 60%.

Rules concerning amber traffic lights

“AMBER means 'Stop' at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident”.