If you live in this century, then you are exposed to blue light on a daily basis from electronic devices. Unfortunately, exposing yourself to too much of it over an extended period of time can become a problem. At All Eye Care Doctors, our medical professionals have years of experience treating patients for various ailments. See how blue light can be harmful to your eyes and what you can do to prevent it.
What is blue light exactly?
Blue light is a short wavelength emitted from the sun. It is a part of the “visible light” spectrum, meaning that the human eye can see it. It has a wavelength of approximately 450 to 495 nanometers. Therefore, it is one of the shortest and highest-energy wavelengths. While the sun is obviously a major source of blue light, along with fluorescent lights and LEDs, we are all becoming overexposed due to our dependence on technology. We see an overabundance of blue light across all of our devices including:
- LED televisions
- Computer monitors
- Smartphones
- Tablets
Although the amount of blue light emitted from televisions screens and other devices is less than that given off by the sun, it’s the amount of time we spend looking at screens that are causing harm.
What It Does
When you stare at your phone or television screen, blue light passes through your cornea which then reaches the retina. This type of light gets absorbed deep in the eye, and it potentially impacts long-term vision. Long periods of exposure over time can lead to digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, as well as retina damage which can lead to age-related macular degeneration.
What You Can Do
Now, this may seem like a lot to worry about, but if you take a few simple precautions, you can eliminate any chance of damaging your eyes from blue light. For instance, try limiting your time in front of the screen and use protective filters on your electronic devices. Computer lenses are very effective tools that block blue light which eases digital eye strain with a contrast increase.
You could purchase blue light computer lenses or the Varilux Progressive Lenses, which are both designed to filter harmful blue light. You can find these at All Eye Care Doctors as a part of our wide selection of the latest eye care lenses available in the industry, and you can also learn more about what we have to offer by checking out our latest press release.