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Updated: Aug 29, 2025

Measuring the Behavioral Effects of Intraocular Scatter
Published on: February 18, 2021
Knowledge, Perceptions and Photoprotective Behaviors Against the Damaging Effects of Direct, Indirect, and Blue
Neal Bhatia1, Natasha Atanaskova Mesinkovska2, Nancy Samolitis3
1Dr. Bhatia is with Therapeutics Clinical Research in San Diego, California.
Objective:
We sought to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic on sun-seeking and sun-safe behaviors.
Methods:
We conducted an online, cross-sectional, population-based survey.
Results:
In total, 1,001 respondents participated in the survey and reported being exposed to 12 or more hours of sunlight (i.e., direct and indirect ultraviolet light, and blue light) each day. Participants self-reported a net increase in all types of light exposure since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to blue light (+38%). Notably, while the effects of direct sunlight were well known among survey respondents, they were less aware of the potential damaging impact of indirect sunlight and blue light.
Limitations:
As the survey was only conducted among residents of the United States, results might not be generalizable to all geographical regions.
Conclusion:
Social outreach strategies are required to improve sun-safe behaviors. Future behavioral interventions should encourage the implementation of broad-spectrum sun protection.
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