In today’s multiscreen world, protecting yourself from digital eye strain is critical. Even your stylish eyeglasses, for example, can help you live a life with less eye strain and a healthy sleep cycle by absorbing excess blue light from the different types of digital devices in our homes and offices. However, it’s unclear whether wearing them all the time is healthful, or whether they should just be used for specific jobs.
How blue light lenses protect your eyes and what they do
Blue light filtering glasses block out excessive amounts of high-energy blue light, and some variants of this eyewear can do so effectively that the melatonin,suppressing effects of blue light are effectively eliminated, significantly improving the wearer’s sleep quality and overall mood while also preventing potential eye damage.
While it may seem unusual to imply that a specific colour of light might cause eye strain and other issues, different wavelengths of light have distinct affects on our bodies. Blue light, also known as High-Energy Visible (HEV) light, is the highest-energy wavelength in the visible light spectrum.
Prior to the invention of electrical and digital devices, the sun was the only source of blue light that humans were aware of. We’ve brought blue light into our homes since the dawn of contemporary technology, especially with the spread of blue light-emitting screens in the digital age, and we absorb more of it at all times of the day than we’ve ever done before for longer periods of time than is usual. It comes through our televisions, smartphones, computers, and tablets, as well as artificial light sources like fluorescent or LED bulbs.
Because our bodies’ biological clocks (or circadian rhythms) did not evolve to deal with this lot of blue light, this can be disturbing. The sun’s blue light kept our sleep cycles in sync with our surroundings. In today’s multiscreen environment, it’s as if we’re suddenly being inundated by sunshine even when the sun isn’t visible, which might have negative consequences such as disrupting our sleep cycles. Excess blue light exposure has even been linked to an increased risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and mood disorders, according to some authorities.
Excessive blue light lowers melatonin, a hormone that helps our body regulate sleep cycles. According to a Harvard study, blue light is twice as efficient as green light at suppressing this type of behaviour. An excess of blue light can also be harmful in other ways: the eye isn’t designed to block blue light, which passes through the lens and cornea of the eye and directly reaches the retina, and too much exposure can damage the retina’s light-sensitive cells, causing effects similar to macular degeneration.
In conclusion, blue light filtering glasses are an excellent approach to protect yourself from digital eye strain and disrupted sleep. However, whether or not you should wear them all day is a different matter entirely.
When is it appropriate to use blue light?
It’s crucial to note that blue light isn’t intrinsically harmful; it’s an excessive amount of blue light that might cause problems. Blue light from the outdoors and sunlight is beneficial to your health, and because HEV wavelengths are important to our moods and sleep rhythms, blue light can be used to effectively treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other mental health disorders.
Blue light glasses are the best protection against artificial sources of blue light that expose your retinas to excessive levels of this wavelength. It makes perfect sense to wear your blue light filter glasses during the day if you spend a lot of your daily hours under artificial light or working at a computer, or both.
Certain types of blue light, however, are required for the regulation of our circadian cycles and endocrine systems. When you’re fully deprived of natural blue light (e.g. sunlight) during the day, it can be just as bad for your sleep patterns as if you’re exposed to too much blue light. If you’re working or spending time outside, it’s usually preferable not to wear blue light glasses so you don’t miss out on the health benefits of blue light.
To put it another way, entirely shutting out blue light isn’t something we should aim for. While it is feasible to wear your blue light glasses at all hours of the day and night, it is preferable to adopt a more balanced approach to the issue.
What steps you should take for the best health?
There are several easy rules of thumb you can follow to protect yourself from the difficulties connected with excessive blue light without going overboard:
Reduce the amount of time you spend in front of the computer
Given the near-constant demands of the multiscreen digital world on our time and attention, this can be one of the most difficult pieces of advice to follow. Even late at night, it can be tempting to be on social media, working, or streaming some type of entertainment practically constantly. A better plan entails taking time away from computer devices and artificial blue light assault whenever possible, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime.
Get outside whenever possible
One of the most effective ways to reset your circadian rhythm is to reconnect with the sun’s natural blue light, which signals your body to align its internal clock with the natural environment. If you can’t get outside, blue light treatment may be a viable alternative, but you should contact with your doctor first.
Change the light sources you use
Excessive blue light exposure can be caused by harsh fluorescent and LED lighting. If you have the option, swapping these out for bulbs with a warmer hue can help mitigate the negative impacts of too much HEV light.
Wear blue light stylish glasses if you are exposed to artificial light
All of the above are fine ideas, but if you want to protect your eyes from excessive HEV light, blue light stylish eyeglasses are the only way to go. Limiting your screen time isn’t always possible, let’s be honest. If you’re an online worker with a heavy workload, getting outside can be challenging. Changing the colour of your bulbs and the brightness of your screens will only reduce your exposure, not eradicate it. These are precautions that can be used in conjunction with protective eyewear but cannot replace it. Although switching your iPhone to “Night Mode” may help, the warm amber yellow-ish colour can be rather distracting – with Blue Light Glasses, your brain will instantly adjust to the tinted lens change while still protecting you from blue light.
The basic line is that wearing blue light stylish eyeglasses is beneficial when working with digital screens or under artificial lighting. You don’t need them when you’re outside in the sunlight. However, in these age of ubiquitous displays, having them on hand is always a smart idea.
Kathi Blogs 