title: The effects of ultraviolet-A radiation on visual evoked potentials in the young human eye.
abstract: A recent study from this laboratory using visual evoked potentials (VEPs) demonstrated that children's eyes are capable of detecting ultraviolet radiation. The aim of this study was to compare dose-response relationships in two age groups, 6-10 years (n = 10) and 20-25 years (n = 10). Under photopic viewing conditions (550 lux), exposures of monochromatic UV-A (339 nm) and visible radiation (502 nm) were correlated to VEPs. The results demonstrate that monochromatic UV-A can elicit age and dose dependent responses in the human visual system, suggesting that the eyes of children are more responsive to UV stimuli than the eyes of young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beacham
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hanifin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hannon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Streletz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sliney
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brainard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012016:Reference Values; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays