According to allaboutvision.com, blue is defined as “as visible light ranging from 380 to 500 [nanometers].” (The difference between different types of light on the spectrum is a bit tedious (but you can check it out here if you’re curious and/or have some time to kill.) The important thing to know is that blue light is everywhere. It’s not just the light that comes from your computer screen or your smartphone or that fancy digital alarm clock by your bed.
The sun is our main source of blue light, and no matter how many devices we create that emit artificial blue light, they will only ever produce a fraction of the amount emitted by the sun. The problem with people spending more and more time on devices that create blue light is that the eye is not very good at blocking blue light. While the eye (even without sunglasses although you should still wear them) does a pretty decent job of filtering out UV rays, almost all visible blue light will penetrate the cornea and lens and reach the retina.
Moreover, there are studies linking blue light exposure to macular degeneration and digital eye strain. This is why many eye doctors now recommend computer glasses that help block blue light and can decrease exposure and increase comfort if you’re spending significant time in front of a screen. (And in today’s increasingly digitized work environment, more and more of us are.)
Writing for allaboutvision.com, optometrist Gary Heiting noted, “Without computer eyeglasses, many computer users often end up with blurred vision, eye strain, and headaches — the hallmark symptoms of computer vision syndrome. Worse still, many people try to compensate for their blurred vision by leaning forward, or by tipping their head to look through the bottom portion of their glasses. Both of these actions can result in a sore neck, sore shoulders and a sore back.”
The maximize the effect of computer glasses, most optometrists recommend customizing them to correspond with any existing vision correction you may already have as well as your work environment (how far you sit from the screen or how closely you prefer to hold your digital device). Luckily, we can help you with all of that. If you’re interested in helping reduce strain on your eyes from blue light and computer use, come see us, and we’ll walk you through our glasses options. We’ve got multiple options to choose from, and our staff can help you make the right decisions for your eyes and your lifestyle.
Still not convinced? Check out this piece by Gina Tomaine over at Good Housekeeping. She tried blue light blocking glasses for a week and noticed results she wasn’t even anticipating.