The Truth About Blue Light

       Blue light is virtually everywhere in our 21st Century, and our eyes aren’t sufficient at stopping it; the sun, computers, phones, LED lighting, Flatscreen TVs, fluorescent lights all contain blue light. Are there ways to escape? Yes, there are a few ways. This article will tell you some basic information about blue light, many of its effects – both positive and negative – and ways to escape the dangers of it. 

What is Blue Light?

           Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum that can be found in both natural and artificial sources like the sun or in a phone.  Electronic devices emit blue light as well as the sun. The sun is not just made up of blue light; it’s made up of red, orange, yellow, and green light rays as well. With all of these different energy levels combined, it creates a spectrum of colored light rays. In other terms, it is what we call sunlight/white light. In many modern-day human-made devices and products, blue light is needed to manufacture, as its rays have the shortest wavelengths and the highest energy. Since the sun and other sources both have high-energy light from about 400 to 450 nm on the visible spectrum, there are numerous effects of this light, both bad and good.

Effects 

           Being exposed to large amounts of blue light at nighttime can interrupt a person’s “circadian rhythm,” which in simple words, disturbs your sleep. Too much blue light could cause something called Digital Eye Strain (DES). This could lead to eye discomfort, fatigue, dry eye, blurry vision, and headaches. Some even say too much blue light can risk macular degeneration later in life, which is an eye disease that causes vision loss. However, there’s not enough information to prove this point yet.  Many scientists agree that when we stare at blue light-filled devices, we blink half as much as we normally do. Some pros of blue light are that blue light is needed for good health as it boosts and helps our alertness, our memory, cognitive function, and even elevates our mood. 

 

How To Protect Yourself From Blue Light 

Here is a list of a few ways to protect yourself from blue light that will aid you and your eyes to make them safer.

• Wear blue light blocking glasses, when using electronics
• Turn on the blue light filtering option on devices (if available on your device) 
• Wear 99-100% of UV radiation sunglasses when outdoors
• Visit an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) at least once a year for an eye exam 
• Tip: Every 30 minutes on screen take a 60-second break and blink your eyes, then go back to track.