Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum. It has the shortest wavelength but the highest energy. Most of the blue light that we experience comes from the sun, however our increased usage of screens means that we are exposing ourselves more to blue light which may have adverse effects on our eye health.
It’s worth noting that even though we hear a lot of unfavourable things about blue light, it does have some benefits such as boosting alertness, elevating mood, helping with memory and cognitive function, and regulating our sleep cycles.
The problem with blue light is that our eyes are not good at blocking it meaning that nearly all visible blue light passes through the front of the eye and reaches the retina. Prolonged exposure to blue light can cause many problems. This includes eye strain, and can increase your risk of eye cancer, age related macular degeneration, cataracts and it can affect your sleep – particularly when using LED screens at night. Researchers at the National Eye Institute have suggested that children may have an increased risk due to the amount of screen-time that they are exposed to.
With advancements in technology and the shift towards digital methodologies in our daily lives it’s important to take care of our eye health. So how might you reduce your risk of overexposure to blue light?
Firstly, Eye Lounge would like to introduce new products designed specifically for those concerned about artificial blue light exposure.
One-a-day chewable gummies that contain lutein and zeaxanthin, the yellow colour in the macula of the eye. These carotenoids are found in fruits and green leafy vegetables. The gummies contribute to normal eye function.
With the same benefits as the Digital Blue Gummies, these capsules come in the traditional capsule pill form so are not chewable. However, this premium formula also contains bilberry for added eye health benefits, astaxanthin and vitamin C. Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress
If you’re concerned about your child’s eye health these may be a better option than the gummies for adults. The Kids gummies exhibit the same benefits and ingredients but are chocolate-berry flavoured so are more suited to your child’s taste palette.
Other options to consider would be to get a blue light filter for your computer and smartphone or set your screen to ‘night light’ to produce warmer tones. Try to reduce your screen time where possible, where this isn’t possible you should aim to practice the 20-20-20 rule. This means taking a break from the screen every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Other options may include making sure your glasses are the right prescription and have features such as anti-glare and blue light filter and keeping your eyes moist and using products to help with eye strain/dryness such as Thealoz Duo.
Hopefully this has helped to simplify the confusion around what blue light is and what it does. Remember that it does have its benefits and should not be eliminated completely as under-exposure can cause Myopia or near-sightedness.
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