About GLEE
Every day, people worldwide experience exposure to diverse light sources—from daylight to electric light to light emitted from displays. This exposure significantly affects human health, behaviour, and well-being, particularly by regulating circadian rhythms and sleep quality. Recent evidence also highlights the potential effect of light exposure on conditions such as childhood myopia. However, global variability in environmental conditions, cultural practices, lifestyles, and climates means that individual and population-level exposures can differ widely.
What we are doing
The GLEE project aims to unify the diverse approaches currently used by research groups around the globe. GLEE is establishing a lean database to harmonize methods of collecting, storing, and analysing visual experience and light exposure data. This standardization ensures that data collected globally can be consistently interpreted, making research findings comparable, reliable, and widely applicable.
By developing infrastructure for storage and analytical tools tailored to innovative measurement technologies, particularly wearable devices, GLEE promotes greater accuracy and reproducibility in research. It facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise, driving advancements that extend beyond the capabilities of any single research group.
Where we are going
The GLEE database serves as an enduring resource for the scientific community. It preserves and enhances the usability of archival data alongside new research, enabling longitudinal studies and comparative analyses over time. By consolidating global research efforts, GLEE not only accelerates scientific discovery but also provides crucial insights that inform public health policies and clinical applications and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes worldwide.
Through its commitment to collaboration and community engagement, the GLEE project aims to build a legacy of innovation and sustained progress in understanding and managing the health impacts of global light exposure.