Blue light could be affecting your life day and night

Are you aggravated with burning eyes at the end of a long day at work? Are you finding it hard to sleep at night after binge-watching 13 Reasons Why on Netflix? These could be the effects of staring at an object (in this case – digital screens) at a fixed distance for far too long. This condition is commonly known as eye strain.

So why is there no eye strain when you are reading a book or a newspaper?

When you are looking at a digital screen, you have got to pit yourself against the additional problem of blue light, which thankfully books and newspapers do not emit.

Blue light is extremely dangerous and numerous studies have already attested to that. Prolonged exposure to blue light can result in conditions such as eye fatigue, dreary eyes, sleeplessness, migraine, Itchy eyes, blurred vision and general fatigue, just to name a few.

Some studies even suggest that, in the long term, exposure to blue light may even damage retina cells, leading to severe conditions like Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Sleep disturbance, especially, is posing as a major problem amongst our digital generation as blue light has a damaging influence on the melatonin levels (the sleep-inducing hormone). Though, studies have drawn the inference that those who wore blue light blocking glasses when using their digital devices at night showed a striking rate of increase in melatonin production and hence found it easier to fall asleep.

Prevention against blue light

What is important is that we understand the direct relationships between blue light exposure and, at best, eye strain, and, at worst, retina damage. The risks must then be correctly addressed and it must be ensured that there is an adequate level of protection.

The first thing you can do is invest in a pair of high-quality anti blue light glasses. As the name implies, they filter out harmful blue light and only let through the good blue light. This not only reduces the risks of digital eye strain but also ensures a more pleasant and healthy lifestyle. You can also take other precautionary measures such as maintaining further distance from the digital screen, taking a break every 20 minutes and looking away from the screen for no less than 20 seconds and installing blue light filter applications on your digital devices.

You wouldn’t step out in the sun without some UV protection, so why look at digital screens without an adequate blue light protection? Your eyes are precious. Don’t let avoidable conditions damage your eyes forever.