Retinal Vulnerability to Light Pollution in Vitiligo: A Narrative Review of the Role of Melanin Loss in Ocular Phototoxicity

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is a condition characterized by theloss of pigmentation in certain areas of the body. It occurswhen pigment-producing cells, called melanocytes, die orstop producing melanin, the pigment responsible for skincolor. This loss of pigmentation can affect any part of thebody, including the lips, hair, and eyes. In the eyes,individuals with vitiligo may present a reduction orabsence of pigmentation in the protective pigmentarylayer, thereby increasing their susceptibility to lightexposure, which raises the question of how does lightpollution may affect the vision of individuals with vitiligo.Summary: This review examines the intersection betweenlight pollution from light-emitting diode (LED)sources and vitiligo, highlighting experimental findings from adult albino rats as a model of oculardepigmentation, exposed to white LED light. KeyMessages: We discuss the biological mechanisms ofretinal vulnerability in the absence of melanin and theimplications for understanding subclinical retinalchanges in individuals with vitiligo.