In today’s digital age, being in front of a screen is part of everyday life. From monitors to handheld gadgets, most people clock in an average of nearly 30 hours of screen time weekly. This represents an almost 80% increase since 2020. This is not all that shocking, given that most people use screens for work, school, and recreation. For example, the billions of social media users globally are proof that people spend most of their time glued to their gadgets. In 2021, Facebook alone had nearly two billion daily visitors. This high number of people on their screens concerns many optometrists who emphasize that this is not good for eye health. In response to this, the eyewear industry has begun more actively introducing blue light glasses to the market. Still, some consumers are unaware of what they actually do and how they help. If you’re interested in learning more, here is a comprehensive guide on blue light glasses.
What is blue light?
The human eye is incredibly sensitive to light, especially the kinds with shorter wavelengths than visible light. You may have heard of ultraviolet (UV) light, which is commonly associated with the sun. This is one of the most popular and harmful forms of light as it can easily penetrate eye tissues and cause damage with overexposure. When it does, it can lead to several medical conditions, such as cataracts and photokeratitis. As prevention, eye experts recommend using sunglasses to block out UV radiation.
Unfortunately, it’s a common misconception that these are the only rays that are dangerous to the eyes. Many assume that they’re safe indoors, but what they don’t know is that the light emitted by their digital devices is also detrimental to their eye health. This is called blue light, and its effects are being observed as a result of the world’s increased screen time. Excessive exposure to blue light is known to disrupt sleep quality. It hinders the production of melatonin, causing poor sleep schedules. Over time, this may lead to side effects such as mood disorders, poor memory, and diseases such as high blood pressure.
Furthermore, it promotes overall eye discomfort by causing dry eyes, headaches, and squinting, which leads to fatigue. With all of these in mind, several eye experts have begun encouraging the use of blue light glasses to tackle some of these effects.
How do blue light glasses work?
As protective eyewear, blue light lenses come with a special lens treatment that makes them effective in this pursuit. Specifically, blue light glasses work by filtering out harmful blue light from devices such as computer screens and smartphones. This effectively reduces the uncomfortable blue light-related side effects of looking at electronic screens and shields the retina from their specific light frequencies.
Blue light lenses can also accommodate prescriptions, which benefits those who require vision correction. They can be worn all day, even during the night when the effects of blue light are the most severe. Ultimately, they should be used whenever in front of a digital screen. This association has led to many alternatively labeling them as ‘computer glasses.’
How do blue light glasses help?
With the glasses reducing the amount of blue light encountered by your eyes, you’ll start to notice some changes. First, you’ll be able to achieve a better circadian rhythm as you’ll be able to get sufficient sleep much easier. Your body clock will no longer be disturbed by blue light, and you’ll be able to establish a better sleep schedule, despite using devices at night. If you want to make the most of your glasses for this goal, you can use it with a blue light filter on your screen displays. Many gadgets have this feature which gives their screens a warmer tint to minimize blue light and help with sleep.
Another screen-related side effect that blue light glasses can help with is dry eyes and squinting. Research has proven that people blink less with prolonged screen time, resulting in their tears evaporating much quicker. When this happens, people are more likely to have irritated eyes and blurry vision, leading to squinting. This often causes headaches due to the tension in the eyes. Blue light glasses help with this by soothing your eyes from digital eye strain. With less blue light, your eyes won’t be as dry and as exhausted. For added relief, you can also practice blinking exercises. This means looking away from the screen and consciously closing your eyes for a few seconds repeatedly. When paired with blue light glasses, your eyes are much more likely to stay moisturized and experience less fatigue.
As shown, blue light glasses are extremely beneficial for those who interface with electronic gadgets a lot. Consider getting these glasses to protect your eyes from the painful side effects of blue light exposure.
