Are you spending long hours working at your computer? Doing so could expose you to blue light eye damage.
Extended exposure to blue light from computer screens may harm your eyes. Studies have demonstrated that prolonged exposure can cause eye strain and disrupted sleep patterns, possibly leading to eye strain or disrupted patterns altogether.
Now, researchers are exploring whether exposure to too much blue light poses additional threats to eye health.
What is Blue Light?
Visible light encompasses various wavelengths and energy levels. Blue light occupies the portion of this spectrum with the highest level of intensity.
Because blue light has higher energy than other colors, it penetrates quickly to reach the retina at the back of the eye. While specific structures in the eye, such as the cornea and lens, usually block harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching these parts of the retina, blue light still goes through these structures. It penetrates more readily than it usually would.
How does blue light impact our eyes?
Research has demonstrated that when exposed to high levels of blue light, retinal photosensitive cells may become damaged, resulting in blindness. Cell damage remains poorly understood, and whether this poses a risk for vision issues like age-related macular degeneration is yet to be established.
Studies are being done to establish whether the amount of blue light emitted by digital devices such as phones, tablets, and computers from digital sources such as cell phones qualifies as excessive exposure. Blue light may contribute to digital eye strain since its wavelength scatters more freely. When these scattered blue rays enter the eye, they create visual noise, which could contribute to symptoms associated with digital eye strain, such as:
Back, neck, and shoulder pain accompanied by blurred vision; frequent need to rub or blink your eyes; difficulty with accommodation (focusing between near and far); dry eyes; eye train congestion and headaches can occur due to all these factors.
Speak to an eye doctor about how blue light may impact your eyes and how blue-light-blocking lenses may provide protection.
How to Protect Eyes From Blue Light
Blue-light blocking lenses provide the most effective defense against blue light exposure for protecting eyesight from blue light exposure.
These lenses feature specially-made lenses to block out or filter out blue light emitted by digital screens, helping reduce potential retina damage and protecting eyes from glare from prolonged exposure to blue light. The lens boasts that its use helps reduce potential retinal damage and protect from long-term exposure to blue light glow.
Additional ways to protect eyes from blue light The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests taking steps to minimize risks from blue light exposure:
Use the 20/20/20 Rule to prevent eye strain.
Every 20 minutes when using a device that emits blue light, pause every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds before returning to close-up work.
Keep Your Eyes Moisturized
Blue-light emitting devices, artificial tear drops, and room humidifiers can all help keep eyes moist by protecting them from dry and irritating conditions.
Employ eyeglasses that contain your specific prescription.
Squinting at screens for long periods is bad for your eye health. If you use eyeglasses to correct your vision, get a prescription that addresses the distance between your eyes and the screen, which should at least be an arm’s length away. Most glasses are intended to cover greater distances.
Adjust the blue light on your screen.
You are adjusting your screen to reduce eye strain and sleep disturbance by changing to warmer tones at nighttime. Blue light filters also help lessen glare off of your screen when working late at night.
