Importance of Blue Light Protection for the Eyes

Excessive amounts of artificial blue light can make your health suffer. The National Eye Institute recognizes the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to blue light. With the current pandemic, everyone is encouraged to stay in and do almost everything virtually. This increases your exposure to blue light even more. You should protect yourself from excessive exposure to blue light. If you want to find out the importance of blue light protection for your eyes, here’s what you should know.

Prevents Inadequate Sleep

Studies reveal that white and bright sunlight has about 30 percent blue light. This all-natural blue light decreases as the afternoon set in to prepare our bodies for sleep in the evening. When you step indoors and use your electronic gadgets, you keep absorbing 35 percent blue light. The percentage does not lower at all. Because you absorb that much blue light at night, straight to your bedtime, you don’t sleep immediately. High levels of blue light tell your brain to suspend the release of melatonin, which initiates and sustains quality sleep. The outcome is inadequate sleep. Blue light has a correlation to the following effects:

• Chronic insomnia

• Mood swings

• Suicidal thoughts

• Paranoia

• Microsleep

• Type II diabetes

• Cardiovascular conditions

• Obstructive sleep apnea

• Chronic lung illness
   

If you wear blue-light-blocking glasses or contacts at least two hours before you sleep, you can reduce your brain from suspending melatonin production. You can then have better sleep for longer hours.

 

Reduces Risk of Having Digital Eyestrain

Experts define digital eyestrain as a form of eye discomfort after at least two hours of using electronic gadgets. The current pandemic situation has forced many to resort to online work and education. With hours of using an electronic gadget up close, digital eye strain is inevitable. The common symptoms of digital eyestrain are headaches, eye irritation, back pain, eye fatigue, neck pain, and blurry vision. Wearing blue light eye protection can reduce your digital eyestrain and may even prevent it.

 

Lowers Risk of Developing Depression

When you increase your screen time, you absorb more blue light. The consistent physical inactivity stimulates your nervous system too much. This leads to an overproduction of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Studies show that cortisol is a primary trigger for depression. When you absorb high levels of blue light, your brain suspends melatonin production. This triggers compound depression. Using blue light eye protection can help prevent this condition.




 

Good blue light eye protection can help your eyes remain healthy despite your long hours of gadget and computer use. At Eyes On You, we offer lenses that can block 90-99 percent of blue light. Please visit our clinic in Portland, Oregon, for a one-on-one consultation. You can also call us at 971-252-7500 if you want to set an appointment or make inquiries about our blue light blocking eyewear collection.

References:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-blue-light-blocking-glasses-actually-work/

http://preventblindness.org/blue-light-and-your-eyes/