A new type of lamp that'll light up our highways and city streets could have an impact on our health.

NZTA is planning on introducing blue LED lamps to the country.

Research says blue lights interfere with people's sleep patterns and damage retinas.

Optometrist Maile Tarsau told Mike Hosking blue light can be bad but it depends on how much exposure you have over time.

"Its probably just another form of blue light exposure in conjunction with all these other factors that we have, so the accumulative effects are what we are looking at in the long term."

LISTEN TO MAILE TARSUA TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE