双语阅读：玩手机对眼睛到底有多大伤害？

We all know that the blue light that emits from our smartphones isn't good for our eyes, but a new study has discovered just how much damage it can cause.

我们都知道智能手机发出的蓝光对眼睛有伤害，但一项最新研究解释了蓝光能造成的伤害程度。

Researchers say that this light is absorbed by vital molecules in our retina and triggers the production of a toxic chemical that kill cells.

研究人员称，视网膜上面一些重要的分子会吸收这些蓝光，并会产生能杀死细胞的有毒化学物质。

This damage can lead to large blind spots in our vision that are the hallmark of macular degeneration, a disease that leads to blindness.

这种伤害可导致视力出现较大的盲点，这也是黄斑变性的典型特征。黄斑变性会导致失明。

The team from the University of Toledo in Ohio says it is urging the public to not use phones in the dark because this can dilate pupils and lead to even more harmful blue light entering our eyes.

俄亥俄州托莱多大学的研究小组呼吁公众不要在暗处使用手机，因为这会使瞳孔放大，导致更多的有害蓝光进入眼睛。

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss for those aged 50 or older, according to the National Eye Institute.

美国国家眼科研究所的数据显示，老年性黄斑变性是50岁及以上人群视力丧失的主因。

The condition occurs when the macula, an oval area near the center of the retina that allows for sharp vision, becomes damaged.

当视网膜中心附近椭圆形的黄斑区受到损害时，就会出现视力丧失。黄斑区的状况决定视力水平。

Sufferers will experience blurred vision or even 'blind spots' in their central vision that may grow larger as the retina dies.

黄斑变性患者通常会觉得中心视觉区域视力模糊，甚至出现“盲点”，而且随着视网膜细胞坏死，视觉模糊和出现盲点的区域会扩大。

Treatments include medications that stop new blood vessels from forming in the eye as well as laser therapies that destroy abnormal blood vessels.

对黄斑变性的治疗包括使用药物治疗防止眼内形成新生血管，以及破坏异常血管的激光疗法等。

For this study, the team decided to focus on retinal, a form of vitamin A found in the retina that coverts light into metabolic energy.

在此次研究中，研究小组把重心放在视网膜上，视网膜上发现的一种维生素A能够把光转换成能量代谢。

Photoreceptor cells, known more commonly as rods and cones, use retinal to covert light into signals that are sent to the brain.

感光细胞（通常被称为干体与锥体细胞）通过视网膜将光线转换为信号，并传递给大脑。

'The human eye reflects UV light (such as from the sun) very well but it allows blue light to enter and the retinal can absorb blue light very well,' lead author Dr Ajith Karunarathne, an assistant professor in the UT department of chemistry and biochemistry, told Daily Mail Online.

研究报告的主要作者卡如那拉西恩博士告诉每日邮报网站说：“人的眼睛反射紫外光（比如来自太阳）的能力很强，但会让蓝光进入眼睛，视网膜吸收蓝光的能力也很强。”他是托莱多大学化学和生物化学系的助理教授。

Dr Karunarathne noted that blue light alone or retinal that hadn't absorbed blue light did not have any effect on the cells.

卡如那拉西恩博士指出，仅仅是蓝光，或是没有吸收蓝光的视网膜不会对细胞有任何影响。

He added that there was no activity when retinal was exposed to other light colors such as green, red or yellow.

他补充说，当视网膜暴露于绿色、红色或者黄色等浅色时，不会有任何反应。

The team did find a molecule, a vitamin E derivative known as alpha tocopherol, that can stop the cells from dying.

研究小组发现了一种分子能够阻止细胞的死亡，这是一种维生素E的衍生物，也称为α生育酚。

'When you damage the photoreceptor cells, they’re damaged for good, so the vitamin E derivative currently just mitigates damage,' said Dr Karunarathne.

卡如那拉西恩博士说：“感光细胞受到的伤害不可逆，所以维生素E的衍生物目前也只能减轻这种伤害。”

'We're currently screening for more molecules to see if they can quench this damaging reaction.'

“目前我们正在筛选更多的分子，看它们是否能终结这种损害反应。”

He explained that as we get older, the ability to prevent attacks from retinal that has absorbed blue light became weaker, which leads to macular degeneration.

他解释说，随着年龄的增长，吸收了蓝光的视网膜防受损能力也在减弱，导致黄斑变性。

Dr Karunarathne says some of the ways we can protect ourselves include wearing sunglasses that can filter both UV and blue light, using blue light filters on our phones, and not looking at cell phones or tablets in the dark.

卡如那拉西恩博士说，有几种办法可以保护眼睛：佩戴可以过滤掉紫外线和蓝光的太阳镜，在手机上贴上蓝光滤膜，不要在暗处玩手机和平板。

'Looking at cell phones in the dark can be very harmful because the pupils are dilated so more blue light can get in and cause damage,' he said.

他说：“在暗处看手机非常有害，因为瞳孔会放大，从而使更多蓝光进入眼睛，导致伤害。”