How Blue Light Affects Your Vision and What You Can Do About It

Feb 29

Consider for a moment how nature tends to adapt and evolve to adjust to varying environmental changes. Plants and animals have developed ways to maintain their ability to thrive over thousands of years, yet for humans, our fundamental bodily systems have largely stayed the same. In today’s modern world, we’re using our eyes in ways that our ancestors would’ve never thought possible, and between our computers at work, laptops at home, and smartphones in our pockets, sometimes our eyes have a hard time keeping up.

When it comes to digital screens, there’s one element that our eyes cannot protect themselves against - blue light. It’s a part of the spectrum that contains a fair amount of energy, and as we stare at our devices all day long, we’re exposing ourselves to this potentially damaging wavelength. Rather than completely avoid all technology, patients can take specific steps to protect their vision and keep their eyes healthy for years to come.

Understanding Its Effects

Most people perceive all light as the same, so why would this particular wavelength that we can’t even see be of concern? Blue light brings with it several issues, including the fact that it’s one of the leading causes of eye fatigue and eye strain. Our eyes are very sensitive to light waves, and since blue light tends to be a bit more scattered, our visual system interprets it as “noise.” This can lead to headaches and blurred vision if we spend hours looking at a screen.

It’s also believed that an increase in blue light exposure can lead to a disease called macular degeneration. While many adults will naturally develop this later in life, studies have shown that when blue light travels through our eyes and hits the retina, the cells there actually sustain damage over time. This can lead to vision loss at an earlier age, however just because you use the computer doesn’t mean that you’re going to lose your sight.

Lastly, blue light affects the body’s sleep/wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm. When our brains encounter this particular wavelength, it essentially sends a message to the body to stay awake and can lead to insomnia and a host of other sleeping issues.

Taking Action Today

The effects of blue light can sound a bit scary, but thankfully there are easy steps to take to mitigate its potential for harm. Most of today’s digital devices offer the ability to use a blue light filter, casting a slight yellow tinge across your screen. This offsets the blue wavelengths and allows you to continue working without having to worry about eye strain.

If you’re a glasses wearer, consider stopping by Associated Eyecare to learn more about blue light blocking anti-reflective coatings for your lenses. They act in a similar way to the filter on your computer, offering you comfortable vision no matter what screen you’re looking at. Ultimately, while technology has advanced, our eyes haven’t, and it’s up to us to take proactive measures to ensure we keep our eyes healthy!