Flash photography will not blind your baby, expert says

A story of a three-month-old baby who was supposedly left blind in one eye because of a camera flash has gone viral, leaving many extra cautious when taking photos of cute little kids. 

 

According to Daily Mail article, a baby boy in China suffered from "irreparable damage" from the flash from a camera held about 10 inches away from him. 

 

The report said that the flash damaged the cells in the macula, a small and highly sensitive and specialized central area of the retina. Damage to the macula can lead to the loss of central vision. 

 

Don't worry. You can still take photos of young ones, but heed a few reminders. 

 

"Halos walang risk to the baby ang flash photography," Dr. Alvina Pauline Santiago said in a report on GMA-7's "24 Oras" on Friday. 

 

However, it's still best to err on the side of caution. 

 

"Meron talagang tinatawag na light-induced maculopathy kapag masyadong matagal kang masyadong nakakatitig sa light at direct mong tinitingnan, puwedeng parang merong momentary blindness. Ang key doon, hindi matagal. Kailangan may certain time exposure lang. Kung video siguro mas putol-putol. Siguro mga 10 to 15 minutes lang, you can take a break first," she added. 

 

Australia's Department of Health also reminded the public that taking a photo without the help of a flash is still the best way to photograph a baby. 

 

"While it probably does not cause much harm, if any, there are ways of taking photographs which do not need flash, and these would be the safest way of taking photos," it stated. 

 

But if you really need to use the camera  flash, make sure you are at least a meter away from your young subject. 

 

For Jamie Espadilla, who is a baby photographer, it is important to be careful when taking photos of little ones. 

 

"I prefer shooting using natural lighting or ambient lighting because iyong babies sensitive pa iyong eyes nila," she said. — Trisha Macas/JDS, GMA News