It’s no secret that we’re spending way too much time staring at our phones and laptops. And it’s no secret that the longer the screen time, the worse the damages are to our eye health.
Hence, the increasing popularity and recommendation of blue light glasses.
But, do they work?
What are blue light glasses?
Blue light emitted from digital screens and LED devices are extremely harmful to your eyes when exposed to for a long time in one session.
Researches have even shown that blue light decreases the quality of your sleep and disrupts your body’s internal clock.
Blue light glasses were therefore introduced to filter out blue light, protect your eyes from glare and thus, reduce damage to your retina.
So, do I need blue light glasses?
Although blue light glasses claim to protect your eyes, there has been recent ongoing debates on whether blue light filters are even effective at all.
Point #1 - For once, blue light is everywhere!
The biggest blue light source is the sun. Even though our digital devices emit a considerable amount of blue light, it’s only a fraction of that compared to the sun.
In fact, by just being outdoors, you’re exposed to about 30 times more blue light than when you’re facing a computer screen!
Studies have shown that the amount of blue light from smartphones, laptops, and digital devices are not very significant, as it’s less than 1% of the safe exposure level.
Point #2 - The real cause of eye strain
Generally, people do not blink as often whenever they’re facing a computer. This causes the eye to become dry, irritated, and tired.
Therefore, even with blue light filters, there won’t be much of an improvement in eye strain. What’s causing eye strain isn’t the blue light itself, but it’s that you’re blinking far less when facing a screen.
Point #3 - Protection against blue light exposure
Furthermore, because long term exposure to screens causes a host of other health problems, such as headaches, poor-quality sleep, and mental health issues, there is only so much that blue light glasses can do.
Tips to take care of eye health
Instead of relying on blue filters to protect your eyes, taking care of your eye health is much more preferred.
- Experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule. In other words, look at least 20 feet away from your screen for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Taking regular breaks from the screen prevents your eyes from drying out and becoming tired.
- You could also consider installing blue-free light bulbs in your home, as they emit lower levels of blue light compared to the likes of fluorescent & LED lights.
- Another useful tip is to take up hobbies that don’t include screen time, such as knitting, baking, playing an instrument, and sports.
- Last but not least, do make the effort to disconnect from the screen and reconnect with nature, whether it’s by going for an evening walk or tending to your garden.
In need of spectacles? Head on here to Focus Point for their latest discounts and sale!