3 Benefits of Blue Light Glasses

 

 

As you may know, the light emitted by computer screens and other devices is not quite like light from natural sources. It has a lot of blue light, the light from the blue side of the visible spectrum. Blue light is also called high-energy visible light. It has a short wavelength, meaning that there is a lot of energy reaching your eyes compared to the much wider wavelengths of the other end of the spectrum.

 

 

 

There is a lot of blue light in sunlight. So, you may experience blue light exposure if you are outside on a bright day without prescription sunglasses. However, this diminishes as sunset arrives. People using computers and other screens may be exposed to blue light for much longer. This can have some negative effects.

 

 

 

Fortunately, you can use blue light glasses to get some protection from these unnatural sources of blue light. There are a few reasons you may consider using such glasses.

 

 

 

1) Reduced Eye Strain

 

For many people, the may reason to consider wearing blue light blocking glasses is to reduce eye strain. If you have ever sat at a computer for a long day of work, you are familiar with the discomfort that comes with looking at a screen.

 

 

 

This is believed to be partially caused by the blue light from screens. Our eyes evolved over millennia to be well-adapted to natural light (even then we need protection from bright lights). They haven't adapted to digital screens, however. So, the intense blue light can irritate the light-sensitive tissue in the backs of our eyes.

 

 

 

If you find yourself with tired, strained eyes at the end of the day, consider using glasses with blue light filtering. Taking breaks from screens for a while can help even more. However, that isn't an option for everyone. So, some glasses may help.

 

 

 

2) Improved Sleep

 

As mentioned above, our bodies are adapted to blue light diminishing as the sun goes down. This helps to signal to our bodies that it is time to go to sleep. However, if we are being exposed to the bright, blue light from screens, our bodies and minds may not be fully ready to go to sleep at night.

 

 

 

It is believed that blue light suppresses the body's ability to produce an important sleep hormone called melatonin. Therefore, you may find that you simply aren't sleepy after working at a screen all day.

 

 

 

Feeling restful at night is a complex thing with many factors. However, people using blue light filtering glasses often find that they sleep better.

 

 

 

3) Protect Your Eyes From Certain Diseases

 

Some experts believe that blue light exposure can lead to certain eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration. This can cause worsening eyesight and even blindness.

 

 

 

It is important to note that there are many other factors and blue light may only play a small role. Additionally, this link has not been conclusively proven. However, if you are concerned about the effects of harsh light from screens on your eyes, consider buying a pair of glasses.