Ocular light and optical radiation exposure as a modifiable environmental determinant of health: expert consensus on research gaps and priorities.

Abstract

Light exposure over 24 h is a modifiable environmental influence on human physiology and behavior with significant implications for health and well-being, yet the field lacks coordinated research infrastructure, standardized methodologies, and translational pathways. To address this, we convened a multi-disciplinary consensus workshop and expert consultation process with 13 experts from academia, public health, radiation protection, and occupational health institutions. The aim was to identify key research gaps and to define priority areas to guide future work. Through an in-person and hybrid meeting, followed by iterative refinement and feedback, we identified nine critical gaps: (1) lack of standardized measurement tools, (2) inadequate exposure estimation infrastructure, (3) inconsistent descriptors and metrics, (4) absence of outcome standards, (5) limited dose-response evidence beyond the laboratory, (6) insufficient data on intervention effectiveness, (7) poor characterization of globally representative and vulnerable populations, (8) fragmented data harmonization, and (9) limited integration into public health frameworks. To address these gaps, we propose 11 research priority areas spanning measurement, methodology, data infrastructure, ethics, and implementation, as well as four capacity-building priority areas. This agenda provides a strategic foundation for building an integrated and evidence-based approach to studying and understanding light exposure as a determinant of health.