HID's UV radiation and cataracts

[DA Aquamaster]

Has there been any research on HID lights and the effects of the UV radiation they put out in terms of the long term effects on a cave divers corneas?

In cars, UV filters are mandatory for HID headlights, and in water, the water acts as a filter. But how effective is it as a filter when a buddy shines it in your eyes (unintentionally of course but it happens) or when UV light is refelcted back at you at close distances (light cave walls or bottom, off the face of the SPG, etc)?

Anyone know if this has been studied?

Are LED lights any better?

[Puttzer]

In dentistry years ago we used "curing" lights that were intense and gave off UV light.

We were instructed to use special glasses or use shields on our lights we could look through: but we were never told indirect lighting or brief glances into the light were a concern.

[FW]

It certainly can't be any worse than walking around in sunlight.

Check this link, you can see the UV output isn't great: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Me...p_Spectrum.jpg

As for LED, my LED divelight charges my gauges, so I assmue it has some UV output as well. Water is a fair UV filter. UV does penetrate water some, or the thermoclines would be shallower.