There are many things that can harm our eyes. Many tend to think of UV rays, however, the threat of blue light is very real. According to Optical Masters, “Blue light is everywhere in today’s digital world, but 72 percent of our population are unaware of its dangers.” Its prominence is in large part due to how much of a role technology has in our lives. You only get one set of eyes in a lifetime, and blue light can threaten them if you’re not careful enough. Understand the effects of blue light and how you can avoid excessive exposure.
Blue Light Explained
Blue light can come from natural sunlight, which we get lots of throughout the day when outside. Our eyes are already sensitive to sights like the sun, which can do a lot of damage to your eyes. Blue light can be just as damaging and dangerous, because it can’t be seen.
Blue light can also be found in our smart phones, computer monitors, tablets, and LED televisions. Blue light also comes from light bulbs and LED lights. The extra, unnatural, and artificial blue light that we receive throughout the day, mostly through technology, is the most damaging.
The Effects of Blue Light
Blindness
A large amount of exposure can damage your retinas and lead to an increased risk of blindness. This is a scary notion, given that we only have one set of eyes for our entire life. According to a 2018 study from the University of Toldeo, blue light “transforms vital molecules in the eye’s retina into cell killers.” Take care of the only eyes you have by avoiding extra blue light and keep your vision intact.
Eye Strain
The most common culprit of digital eye strain is too much exposure to blue light. This tends to happen when you stare at a screen for too long. Eye strain can cause blurred vision, headaches, neck and back pain, and dry, bloodshot eyes. Eye strain is an uncomfortable feeling that keeps you from doing work or enjoying entertainment.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is another side effect of blue light. This tends to happen to people over 60, who are exposed to light over time, but it can happen sooner with increased exposure. Macular degeneration is when the central part of the retina deteriorates, which causes many people to get surgery to keep their vision intact. By avoiding blue light, you can see and read for a longer period.
Circadian Rhythm
Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. As it turns out, blue light can also affect this aspect of life. Getting too much blue light throughout the day can throw your brain’s circadian rhythm out of balance. This means you will not get the sleep your body needs. A study from the University of Toronto also saw that blue light negatively affected melatonin levels. By not getting the adequate amount of sleep, it can disrupt your entire day.
This is why you want to avoid going on your phone, watching TV, or being on a computer right before bed. This is especially bad if no other lights are on in your room.
Depression
Blue light can also contribute to our mental health. There are many causes of depression, and overexposure to blue light is one thing that can worse existing issues. This mostly comes from not getting an adequate amount of sleep, so the harmful effects of blue light will snow ball.
Benefits of Blue Light
Despite the negative effects to blue light, you still need it. According to Prevent Blindness, blue light “boosts alertness, helps memory and cognitive function and elevates mood.” According to Harvard, blue light is beneficial during the day, so at night is when it becomes a problem. There is also a major difference between natural blue light from the sun and artificial blue light from technology, with the former being not as bad for you because it’s not produced by a screen.
How to Avoid Exposure
Protective Eyewear
Unfortunately, our eyes can’t block blue light naturally, which is why wearing protective eyewear is one of the best ways you can keep your eyes protected. Protective eyewear may also be the easiest solution, since you don’t have to rely on blue light filter settings; it can even enhance an image on a screen. Computer glasses are designed with lenses that block the blue light from reaching your eyes, and you can still see an image clearly. You can also get prescription eyewear with the appropriate blue light blocking filters.
Much of our entertainment today also comes from blue light contributors. Video gaming is an activity that takes many hours of hard work to complete and requires long exposure to blue light. If you find yourself gaming for long periods of time, you will probably want to invest in protective eyewear too. This can also apply to those who enjoy binging TV shows or if you enjoy reading eBooks on a tablet.
It’s hard to stay away from technology in today’s world, and it’s scary to think that working on an essay or completing tasks for a job can be detrimental to your personal health. You want to put yourself in the best position possible to succeed, and part of that is not worrying about potential problems down the line. With computer glasses, all the side effects of blue light go away, and you can go back to completing the work in your life without worry.
Knowing the effects of blue light and avoiding it by wearing computer classes can help your wellness in the digital age. The constant use of technology typically goes unchecked, but you can make it a habit to wear glasses that help you avoid eye strain, sleep disruption, blindness, and more. Vision is such an important part of our lives that we often take for granted. You don’t want to know what it’s like once it’s gone, so invest in a pair of glasses from Glassy to keep your eyes healthy and fully functioning.
