Blue light is ubiquitous these days, and overexposure may cause damage. With all the constant screen use exposing our eyes to constant blue light, how can we keep our eyes healthy?
What Is Blue Light?
You may have heard of blue light, so first of all, what is it?
Blue light is light on the bluer end of the spectrum. It’s concentrated naturally in sunlight, and helps to regular out sleep-wake cycles. It’s also found in the screens that most of us use constantly: our phones, our computers and laptops, our e-readers, tablets, TVs, and more. Most of us spend many hours a day, and sometimes all day, exposed to constant blue light sources.
Why Worry About Blue Light?
We said that blue light was a natural part of the light spectrum, right? So what’s the problem?
While blue light is naturally occurring, the amount of blue light we’re exposed to through our devices can potentially cause eye strain and long-term damage. This blue light exposure starts very young, with most children, and often even babies, exposed to blue light sources all day, and often long past the time the sun sets and we’d naturally no longer be exposed to blue light for the remainder of the day.
Studies show that blue light at night may also largely suppress melatonin production, thus affecting sleep.
How Do You Protect Your Eyes From Blue Light?
From screen time breaks, vitamins and supplements, phone and computer apps, and blue light filters and glasses, there are myriad ways to help support your eyes from too much blue light exposure.
What are the best eye health supplements?
Lutein and zeaxanthin are both carotenoids that support eye health, and are among the best-studied ingredients for blue light exposure specifically. There are numerous supplements that contain both, in capsule, gummy, and other forms.
Fish oil can also be a good support for eye health generally. These, plus a multivitamin, can offer a very good basic eye protection supplements plan.
What Is a Blue Light Filter?
Blue light filters are physical filters that go over screens, such as phones and tablets, to filter out the blue light.
These days, most phones, tablets, and other electronic devices also come with built-in settings to filter out blue light frequencies from the device itself, often set for particular times of day, such as after sundown or to turn on two hours before bed. Using these settings can help prevent the blue light from those devices from affecting sleep at night, or at all, depending on how you decide to set them.
How Do Blue Light Glasses Work?
Blue light glasses work similarly to blue light filters. Sitting directly over the eyes, they can help filter any blue light that you’re exposed to if you’re working on your computer, trying to avoid more blue light at night for sleep support, or more. Some reading glasses also filter blue light, and prescription glasses can be made with blue light filtering built in as well.
With just a little support, you can protect your eyes and those of your kids as we spend more time on our blue light-emitting devices, for lifelong healthy eyes.
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