The Dangers of Blue Light and What You Can Do

Electronic devices that emit blue light can become a potential hazard for your eyesight because of the high energy visible light. Roughly 25 hours every week, people spend time on their phones, computers, and other digital devices that can result in serious damage to your visual system ranging from eyestrain, headaches, and fatigue to an increased risk for macular degeneration. There have been studies that show how light affects our bodies biologically like regulating hormone balance of melatonin as well as vitamin D, but a high proportion of blue light has been a bit of a debate.

Some people concluded that blue light at night causes restless before going to sleep, however, most optometrists are aware of how blue light can affect your vision and lead to certain eye conditions like eyestrain.  Many optometrists recommend the 20/20 rule where you take a break every 20 minutes look away from your computer screen and relax your eyes for 20 seconds. Still, this isn't a complete solution against blue light, Essilor and the Paris Vision Institute created a selective light filter or lens to block out UV as well as the harmful blue-violet light. These lenses are known as BluTech Lenses, where the blue light is filtered out, duplicating elements in the eye, called ocular lens pigment and melanin. Other companies like Recharge lenses, developed by HOYA, reflect up to 30% of harmful blue light away from the eye.

Patients who spend most of their time on electric devices are at an increased risk facing eyestrain, fatigue, and macular degeneration, and while there are options available for blue light filtered lenses, the best way to protect yourself is to contact your local eye doctor and get a better evaluation of your eye health.