If you spend most of your day behind a screen, you could experience all kinds of bothersome effects, ranging from eyestrain to headaches and sleep disturbances. Whether it's your phone, laptop or desktop computer, screens emit blue light, which can negatively impact your vision and health.
Practicing the 20-20-20 rule, where you look away from your screen at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, can help reduce some of the strain. Other solutions — like blue light glasses — can also help reduce your exposure and protect your eyes.
What Is Blue Light?
This high-energy visible (HEV) light is emitted by the sun and is part of the visible light spectrum. It offers benefits ranging from increasing mood to regulating the circadian rhythm. While some blue light is necessary and good, excessive exposure, especially from digital devices, can have a negative impact on our eyes and overall health.
If you spend a lot of time behind screens or use your digital devices late into the evening, you want to minimize the impact this high-energy, short-wavelength light can have on your health.
Blue Light Impact on Eye Health
Natural blue light exposure during daylight hours offers several positive benefits, such as increased attention and mood. However, blue wavelengths from electronic screens, especially later in the day when the body should naturally be winding down, can have negative short-term and long-term effects. For example, if you're on your digital device for a while, you may notice that you tend to blink less. The less you blink, the more likely you'll experience dry eyes and discomfort.
The longer and more frequently you use your digital devices, the more likely you are to experience long-term effects. Blue light can contribute to issues ranging from cataracts to eye cancer, making it crucial to limit exposure.
Digital Eyestrain
Digital eyestrain, which is also called computer vision syndrome, is a common symptom that many experience. Along with causing dry eyes and discomfort, digital eyestrain can cause a range of symptoms that can make completing tasks difficult or even impossible.
Common symptoms include:
- Burning.
- Itchiness.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Headaches.
- Difficulty focusing.
Managing screen time — for both children and adults — will have a positive impact on both your eyes and overall health.
What Are Blue Light Glasses?
Unlike standard eyeglasses, blue light glasses — sometimes called blue screen glasses or blue light blocker glasses — are specially designed to filter out the blue light that screens give off. You can wear them any time you look at a smartphone, TV, computer or tablet. Even though they are called "blue light" glasses, they look essentially identical compared to regular lenses. Your blue light lenses may have a slightly yellow or blueish hue, but overall, blue light glasses are almost indistinguishable from standard eyeglasses.
Whether you're using your digital devices for a few hours or all day long, blue light glasses will help filter harmful light and make it safer and more comfortable for you to look at your screens. Plus, blue light filtering can be added to any pair of nonprescription or prescription glasses, making it easier than ever to add some safety to your daily screen time routine.
Benefits of Wearing Blue Light Glasses
While the best way to avoid the negative effects of blue light is to reduce electronic device use — especially at night — blue light glasses offer a promising solution for people who must use digital devices daily. For example, if you work behind a computer screen, wearing blue light glasses can significantly reduce eyestrain. Here's a closer look at the benefits of blue light glasses.
Prevent Eyestrain
Excessive screen time can cause eyestrain, especially if you have preexisting eye conditions. If you work in an office — or just enjoy frequent trips to the movie theater or watching TV to wind down — eyestrain can make it difficult to complete tasks and enjoy the things you like.
Wearing blue light glasses can reduce the digital eyestrain and blurred vision that results from staring at screens for long periods of time. These glasses filter out the blue light from your digital devices and help you stay focused and comfortable while studying, working or browsing the internet. You can reduce eye discomfort and pain with a pair of protective blue light glasses.
Prevent Headaches
Digital eyestrain can sometimes cause headaches, which can further impede productivity or limit your enjoyment of your favorite activities. When you target blue light exposure with blue light glasses, you might notice fewer headaches and feel better throughout the day.
Enhance Sleep Quality
Excessive exposure to blue light can negatively impact your sleep-wake cycle. Blue light can disrupt your circadian rhythm, or your body's internal clock, which helps regulate normal waking and sleeping cycles.
Blue light exposure disrupts your body's ability to produce melatonin, often called the "sleep hormone." Your body naturally releases melatonin when it's dark outside. However, if you use your screens late into the night, the light they emit can trick your body into believing it's daytime, so it will release less melatonin.
When your circadian rhythm is disturbed, you may find that it's much harder to fall asleep at night, stay asleep once you finally fall asleep or wake up feeling rested in the morning.
Wearing blue light glasses, especially in the evening, can support better sleep patterns. Your body will be able to naturally produce sufficient melatonin, helping you achieve quality sleep.
How Blue Light Impacts Mental Health
Blue light can also impact mental health. A disrupted sleep cycle can increase one's susceptibility to experiencing mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Not getting enough restful sleep disrupts hormone production and regulation and can contribute to mood disorders. Because of the correlation between disrupted circadian rhythm, sleep and mental health, health care professionals recommend limiting screen time or taking the necessary steps to filter blue light exposure.
Improve Your Eye Health With Blue Light Glasses From Eyemart Express
Whether you're looking for nonprescription or prescription lenses, blue light glasses will help you maintain your eye health. At Eyemart Express, we are proud to help you find the right type and fit of nonprescription and prescription glasses. Our quality blue light glasses, like the UltraXHD lenses, allow you to see the moment while looking after your health and safety. The UltraXHD lenses block 100% of ultraviolet light up to 400 nanometers and are impact- and scratch-resistant.
Ready to get started? Browse lenses online or visit a store to get glasses in a blink!
