Have you ever wondered why your eyes hurt after scrolling on Facebook or looking at your iPhone for a long time? Well, the reason behind it is blue light. Blue light is a wavelength on the visible spectrum between 380 and 500nm. When Blue Light hits our eyes, it stimulates our cones which control our perception of color, but most importantly, they make us see details. This is why we can see things clearly when there are bright lights around us or when we look at the sky during the day because those activities produce blue light. However, prolonged exposure to these wavelengths can cause damage to retina cells which may lead to blindness in extreme cases due to macular degeneration that targets the center part of the retina called the fovea.
What You Should Know About Blue Light
Some studies show that blue light is harmful to your vision, but there is no proof that it permanently damages the retina cells. So, here are six things you should know:
1. Use Blue Light Filters and Protective Eyecare
Using blue light filters on your electronic devices and wearing protective eye care such as sunglasses is a good idea. It is the easiest way to reduce damage caused by blue light. These filters are available for smartphone cameras, tablets and laptops and prevent significant amounts of blue light from reaching your eyes without affecting the visibility of the display. Protective eye care is even easier to use; all you have to do is click here for blue light glasses backed by science and sleep-friendly lighting, and your eyes are protected. In addition, it is also a good idea to get your eyes checked once in a while.
2. Blue Light Affects Your Sleep
Have you ever noticed that it keeps you awake for hours when you are using your phone before bedtime? This is because blue light stimulates our brains to release chemicals that keep us awake and active even when we don’t want to be. This chemical reaction causes blue light filters not to work if they are put on electronic devices with screens because the wavelengths turn into something different. So, make sure the last thing you do at night before going to sleep is shut down your electronic devices or cover their screens so that no blue light can reach your retina cells. As for apps, f .lux-a, a computer program that reduces the amount of blue light produced by screens-works well when it comes to blocking out all harmful wavelengths.
3. Blue Light in Daylight is Beneficial for Your Eyes
Exposure to natural blue light helps in improving vision and makes you see better at night because when your eyes are exposed to sunlight, they receive signals that trigger the release of a chemical substance called dopamine which stimulates retinal cells responsible for our vision. This substance blocks chemicals that cause degeneration in retina cells, so exposing yourself to blue light every day can prevent diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.
4. Use Eye Help Apps
There are apps available to help your eyes when exposed to blue light. For iOS, you can download f .lux-a computer app that changes the color of a screen based on time of day and type of lighting to reduce negative effects resulting from exposure to blue light at night-and Twilight, which is an app that automatically adjusts the brightness and color temperature of your phone at a certain time every day. On android phones, and inside the blue light filter works well because it filters out all harmful wavelengths before they reach your retina cells while simultaneously allowing you to continue using your phone as normal.
5. Don’t Overdo It with Blue Light Filters
Some people go overboard when using blue light filters in their electronics, resulting in dull screens with decreased brightness. This is not only a waste of time and money because the filters don’t work properly, but it is also bad for your eyes in the long run. Experts state that occasional exposure to blue light before going to bed doesn’t harm. However, people who constantly use electronic devices with blue light filters are most likely causing more damage than they think. In addition, using these filters makes you unaware of when natural blue light is present around you, which can be refreshing if used correctly.
6. The Blue Light Hazard Is Not Proven Yet
The International Electrotechnical Commission has not proven that the use of screens with blue light damages retinal cells permanently. So, although many studies have been conducted, they didn’t show significant results to prove this hypothesis yet. These studies showed only temporary effects on the retina cells after exposure of up to 4 hours which is equivalent to 20 days per year, given that an average person uses electronic devices up to 3 hours per day.
It’s not easy to avoid blue light because our lives are now surrounded by it. Although some lamps emit harmful red or green lights, using protective eye care and eye help apps will surely reduce the strain on your eyes.
Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
