Healthe and Corning Announce Collaboration on Technology to Help Protect Against Digital Device Blue Light Exposure

October 19, 2017 |

5 min read

Healthe and Corning Incorporated announce their collaboration to develop and introduce Eyesafe technology made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning.

[19-October-2017]

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthe and Corning Incorporated announce their collaboration to develop and introduce Eyesafe® technology made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning. When integrated with Corning Glass, Eyesafe® technology selectively filters UV and high-energy visible blue light emitted by digital devices.

Similar to sunscreens, which have an SPF rating, Eyesafe technology has an RPF® rating -- or Retina Protection Factor. The higher the rating, the more digital blue light energy is blocked. Eyesafe technology made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning® provides consumers with improved scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility and better drop performance compared to existing screen protector solutions (1).

According to a 2016 Nielsen Audience Report, the average screen time has grown to 10.4 hours per day (2). As such, blue light exposure has increased, especially among children (3, 4). Research shows that prolonged exposure to the blue light emitted from electronics can result in a variety of health concerns for adults and children, including computer vision syndrome, (5) eye strain, (6) sleep cycle disruption (7, 8) and a variety of other ocular health concerns (9, 10).

“As screen time and blue light exposure from devices continues to increase, we are excited to collaborate with Corning, the leading innovator in glass technologies for the display industry,” says Justin Barrett, Healthe’s CEO. “Together we have developed a best-in-class light filtering technology which offers protection from high-energy visible blue light and provides the benefits of Corning’s superior glass for device protection.”

“Corning is excited to collaborate with Healthe to create a better user experience by leveraging our unique material science solutions,” said Scott Forester, division vice president, Marketing and Innovation Products, Corning Specialty Materials. “Corning’s Accessory Glass was designed for screen protector applications and delivers superior scratch and drop performance. The combination with Eyesafe technology now provides consumers with added protection from the harmful effects of blue light.”

Eyesafe technology made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning® is available for a variety of digital devices on Eyesafe.com and from select Eye Care Professionals in the United States. To learn more about Eyesafe technology made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning®, please visit Eyesafe.com/Corning.

About Healthe & Eyesafe Technology
Healthe is a worldwide supplier of Eyesafe® blue light filtering technology for the world’s leading device manufacturers. Eyesafe technology and associated intellectual property portfolio was developed by world-class engineers and a team with decades in electronics, display materials, and light management to selectively filter UV and high-energy visible (HEV) blue light while maintaining color quality. Similar to sunscreen, Eyesafe technology has an RPF® or Retina Protection Factor rating which corresponds to the amount of blue light energy filtered. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Healthe works to develop technologies and standards in conjunction with leaders in the eye care community. To learn more about Healthe and Eyesafe® technology, please visit Eyesafe.com.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 166-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries.

Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display technology, automotive, and life sciences vessels. Corning’s industry-leading products include damage-resistant cover glass for mobile devices; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for state-of-the-art communications networks; trusted products to accelerate drug discovery and delivery; and clean-air technologies for cars and trucks.

Sources:

1. Actual results may vary.
2. 2016 Nielsen Audience Report, 1Q Report, http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports/2016/the-total-audience-report-q1-2016.html, June 27, 2016.
3. American Psychological Association, Children and Electronic Media: How Much is Too Much? http://www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2015/06/electronic-media.aspx, June 2015.
4. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, Light-emitting diodes, (LED) for domestic lighting: Any risks for the eye? F. Behar-Cohen, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21600300, May 14, 2011.
5. American Optometric Association, The 21st Century Child: Increased Technology Use May Lead to Future Eye Health and Vision Issues www.aoa.org/newsroom/the-21st-century-child-increased-technology-use-may-lead-to-future-eye-health-and-vision-issues, July 28, 2015.
6. The Vision Council, Eyes Overexposed: The Digital Device Dilemma, http://2014.thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/2416_VC_2016EyeStrain_Report_WEB.pdf, January 6, 2016.
7. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness, Chang AM, Aeschbach D, Duffy JF, Czeisler CA, http://www.pnas.org/content/112/4/1232.abstract, November 26, 2014.
8. NPJ Aging Mechanisms of Disease, Hatori M, et al. Global rise of potential health hazards caused by blue light-induced circadian disruption in modern aging societies. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-017-0010-2, June 16, 2017.
9.Gianluca T, Ian F, Kazuo T, Effects of Blue Light on The Circadian System and Eye Physiology, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734149/, January 24, 2016.
10.PLOS One, Phototoxic Action Spectrum on a Retinal Pigment Epithelium Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Exposed to Sunlight Normalized Conditions, http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0071398, August 23, 2016