Do your eyes start hurting after you’ve sat in front of the computer screen for too long? Your eyes are constantly exposed to light throughout the day, but there’s one kind in particular that has proven to be very damaging for your eyesight: blue light. Blue light is present in almost every light source we come across, from our laptop screens to LED fixtures. Studies have shown that over time, this light can cause irreversible damage to your vision. Since blue light is almost inescapable, it is one of the most common reasons for eye injuries. Blue lenses are specially developed to combat these harmful effects of blue light by acting as a protective shield. If you’re wondering whether you should switch out your regular lenses for blue lenses, here’s everything you should know first.
What is blue light?
The umbrella term ‘light’ that we are exposed to is actually divided into visible light and non-visible light. Blue light comes under the visible light spectrum and is found in the sun’s rays and other devices which emit light. Although it can cause damage to our eyes, it’s also important to remember that blue light is actually vital for many of our bodily processes. Light plays an important role in regulating our internal clock, helping our body stick to a balanced sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to blue light has also been linked with the release of serotonin or ‘feel-good’ hormones. This is why blue light therapy is often used to treat patients suffering from depression and insomnia. However, too much of a good thing is always bad and blue light is no exception to this.
The main reason why blue light is considered so harmful is because it can penetrate your eyes, reaching right into your retina. To put this into perspective, only about 5 percent of UV light actually reaches the retina. This is very concerning because our eyes come into contact with blue light through a variety of sources throughout the day. As most of us work in front of computer screens all day, we might be damaging our eyesight more than we realize.
How does blue light affect our eyes?
Since blue light can penetrate deep into the inner layers of our eyes, it has the potential to do a lot more harm than other kinds of light rays. The short-term effects of blue light exposure include headaches, blurred vision and eye pain due to straining. Most of us experience these effects after we work on our computers for a long time. These symptoms are generally the first signs that we need to start wearing glasses. The long-term effects of blue light exposure, however, are the real cause for concern. Blue light has been linked to the early onset of age-related macular degeneration. This involves the weakening of the eye muscles, which leads to poor vision. Since it penetrates the cornea and conjunctiva, causing inflammation, blue light exposure can also lead to the formation of cataracts. In some cases, heavy exposure to blue light can also lead to irreversible eye damage and permanent loss of vision.
What is blue light filter and how does it work?
Blue lenses are specially designed to filter out only the harmful blue light rays. While blue lenses are sometimes confused with computer glasses, they’re actually completely different. Computer glasses have a yellow tint which works as a blue light filter, but blue lenses are completely clear. This means that while they act as a blue light filter, they won’t affect your vision in any way.
Blue lenses have both long-term and short-term benefits for your eyesight. In the short-term, it can give you relief from eye strain and headaches. If your eyes hurt after working on your computer for a while, then blue lenses can be very helpful for you. Blue lenses can also prevent harmful long-term damage to your eyes. Since they act as a blue light filter from entering your retina, your chances for developing cataracts and macular degeneration will be much lower.
If you want to keep your eyes healthy and strong, the first step you can take is to switch out your regular lenses for blue lenses. Visit your nearest Specsmakers store to find out more about blue lenses and replace your old lenses with them.
