Why is it critical to reduce exposure to Blue Light?
What is blue light? Even though it is not a new phenomenon, there has been a constantly increasing concern about its effects on our sleep cycle. We are exposed to blue light wavelengths anytime we use a mobile phone and when there is a sunny day.
Blue light tends to occur naturally in the light spectrum of the sun. It has higher energy and a smaller wavelength than other colors. When absorbed during the daytime, it syncs up perfectly with our body's cardiac rhythm and provides us with an increase in cognitive function and alertness.
Nevertheless, too much exposure to this bright light can prove to be harmful.
Blue light can be disruptive to a healthy sleep cycle, leading to numerous disorders such as insomnia and sleep deficiency. This is because blue light surpasses melatonin from being produced in our bodies. It is a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle.
Its level starts to increase in the evening after the sunsets and is steadily maintained throughout the night time to promote deeper and better sleep. When our body has an excess of melatonin, it can trick our minds into thinking that it's time to wake up.
Additionally, by staring at a laptop or TV screen for hours on a daily basis, prolonged exposure to blue light can be harmful to your eyes as well.
This may result in dryness, redness, sore neck and shoulders, eye fatigue, blurred vision, and even headaches.
Even if you do not spend a lot of time watching television or working on your laptop, you are likely on a smartphone, which is emitting blue light waves in your hand or nearby.
According to research, approximately 1 in every five American adults use smartphones as their primary online access. Research also shows that 71% of people fall asleep with their smartphones in their hands or have them in bed with them.
Our dependency on smartphones has been causing disruptions in how we sleep. This is why you need to consider getting yourself a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses for insomnia.
The long-term effects of exposure to blue light waves on your eye health and sleep cycle clearly show how critical it is for you to protect your eyes. To solve blue light problems that come with exposure to digital devices, you can choose to wear glasses with a blue light filter to prevent any future issues.
Wearing blue-blocking glasses helps improve your sleep cycle and affect your cardiac rhythm, eliminates eye strain, and makes you notice how much screen time you are clocking, and helps you adjust your habits accordingly.
There is no recommended amount of time that you need to wear blue light glasses to be effective. It is best to wear them when working on a screen for several hours and during the night when the exposure to blue light needs to be reduced significantly.
Often worn as a preventive measure, these glasses can lead to increased focus, constant sleep on a regular basis, and less fatigue.