Digital screens are everywhere. You’re likely reading this article on one of them now. Every day we are exposed to blue light – a part of the natural electromagnetic spectrum. Most of our blue light exposure comes from the sun, but in the year 2022, it is unavoidable. So how can wearing Blue Light Glasses help?

In recent years, blue light glasses have become a popular trend, some for style, others for the eye strain they feel for hours staring at an electronic screen. Here, we share the benefits of wearing blue light glasses and the toll blue light can have on your eyesight and your sleep over time. Over time, our eye health is decreasing and if we are not protecting and maintaining good health for our eyes then our eyes will end up paying the price.

WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT?

Light emits energy and it can be categorized by wavelength. The longer the wave, the less energy it produces. Blue light is seen in very short waves, thus it is a high-energy form of light. Actually, blue light is only slightly longer than UV rays, making it almost as damaging to your body as increased sun exposure can be – without proper protection.

HOW BLUE LIGHT AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH?

Although blue light is slightly less harmful than the sun’s rays, experts say that the rapid increase in exposure to blue light has raised concerns about the ways in which it can affect your eyes and your entire body over time.

YOUR EYES

Your eye structure consists of the cornea and lens which protect the light-sensitive retina from exposure to UV rays and other forms of light. These structures, however, cannot keep out blue light, especially at such high volumes. The most common signs of blue light damage to the eyes are blurry vision and dry, irritated eyes caused by what is known as “eye strain”.

There is not enough scientific research to correctly assume that blue light exposure can damage the retina itself. However, many eye doctors have expressed concern about the amount of time and physical closeness people have in exposing themselves to blue light. Some studies have even suggested that blue light exposure over time can lead to permanent vision changes and even a number of eye diseases.

YOUR SLEEP

In recent years, we have begun to hear more studies revealing the effect cellphones have on our quality of sleep, especially when using them in our beds in a dark room at night. Shorter wavelengths of light have been shown to delay the release of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone commonly released in the body a few hours before bedtime. Blue light is a short wavelength/high energy light that certainly can cause interference in your sleep.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Limit screen time – turn off your electronic screens 2 hours before bed
2. Adjust screen brightness – turn down the brightness and avoid looking at your screens in a dark room
3. Wear blue light glasses – they can block a portion of blue light from your eyes
4. Switch out your LED light bulbs – while LED bulbs are energy-savers, they produce high energy waves that are very similar to blue light and can be just as damaging to your health
5. Get outside – step away from the devices and into the outdoors for at least a few hours per day