Indigo Light Exposure May Prevent Myopia in Children

A study published August 18, 2026, in Cell Reports Medicine suggests that exposure to indigo light, ranging from 419 to 446 nanometers, can effectively prevent nearsightedness.

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's and the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that indigo light stimulates OPN5 receptors, which are essential for normal refractive development in the eye.

Standard white LED lighting lacks sufficient indigo wavelengths, contributing to the global rise in myopia, which experts predict could affect nearly 5 billion people by 2050.