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Should You Be Concerned About Blue Light Exposure?


By the time the average American child reaches age 17, their eyes will have spent the equivalent of nearly six years looking at digital devices according to findings from a new survey by VSP. With so much screen time in today’s world, our eyes are being exposed to an unprecedented amount of high-energy blue light which is emitted from devices like smartphones, tablets, TVs, and even CFL and LED lights. Blue light has caused a huge increase in digital eye strain not only in adults, but also children. The blue light coming off our favorite screens is extremely difficult for the human eye to focus, which causes our eyes to work overtime to try and process it which can lead to headaches, tired eyes, and blurry vision.

From the classroom, to the office, and nearly everywhere in between, digital devices are becoming more and more prevalent in our lives. Yet, survey results show that parents are largely unaware of blue light and its impact on vision. So what can you do to reduce exposure to blue light? Explore the infographic below to learn more.

TechShield™ Blue is a next-generation anti-reflective coating that absorbs and reflects the specific blue light wavelengths associated with digital eye strain. This near-clear coating is a great choice if you spend two or more hours a day in front of a screen or under an LED. Talk to your VSP eye doctor today about reducing your blue light exposure.

Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/blue-light-exposure



Reducing
Digital Eye Strain

How many hours a day do you spend staring at a screen? An hour? Three to four hours? More? According to recent findings from The Vision Council, 60% of Americans spend five or more hours a day with their eyes fixed on a smartphone, tablet, or computer screen*.

And why wouldn’t they? Today’s world runs on digital. Mobile devices and computers deliver countless benefits to help us stay informed and connected. However, they can also serve up a less beneficial side effect.

Many digital devices and computer monitors emit blue light, and blue light exposure can contribute to digital eye strain. Here’s why: After blue light enters your eyes it scatters. Your eyes then have to work extra hard to focus that scattered light. In other words, your peepers are putting in overtime on a daily basis, which can contribute to repetitive eye strain and associated headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. Consider the following five ways to reduce your blue light exposure and decrease the potential onset of digital eye strain.

1. Ask the expert (your eye doctor!)
An annual trip to the eye doctor is critical for the entire family (especially children). Ask your VSP network eye doctor about the best options to help you or your children reduce eye strain, whether that’s in the form of computer vision or blue light lenses. Even if you don’t wear corrective lenses, some blue light coatings can be applied to non-prescription eyewear.

2. Observe the 20-20-20 rule
Give your eyes a break every 20 minutes and spend 20 seconds looking at something at least 20 feet away. Also, blinking more often helps to moisten your eyes, which may help reduce visual discomfort.

3. Maintain your digital distance
Find a comfortable working distance from your screen. This is especially important for children since the intensity of light increases exponentially the closer our eyes are to the source. Children should hold devices as far away from their eyes as is comfortable. Adults are encouraged to hold devices at arm’s length

4. Dim the lights
Turn down the brightness level of device screens to reduce the amount of blue light exposure, especially during the evening hours. Additionally, as LED and CFL lighting also emit blue light, it would be a good idea to dim those at home or work if possible.

5. There’s an app for that
A number of apps are also available to help reduce blue light emission from devices.

* The Vision Council, EYES OVEREXPOSED: The Digital Dilemma, 2016, PDF
Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/digital-eye-strain


Good vs Bad Blue Light


There is no escaping the fact that most of us are surrounded by digital devices. Whether in the office, at home, or in the palm of your hand, these devices are ubiquitous. They also emit blue light and there has been a lot of media interest about the impact it is having on our health. As part of that conversation, an unsettling term has surfaced: good blue light.  How did this term come about? First, we need to take a step back and discuss blue light in terms of wavelength. Our visual system detects wavelengths of light between approximately 400-750 nanometers (nm). The shorter wavelengths have higher energy and a cooler color (blue light is defined as 400-500nm). We can also further divide these wavelengths of light by their effects on our vision and health.

What is “bad” blue light?

Blue light below 430nm is most responsible for the tired feeling our eyes may get after viewing digital screens; we call this digital eyestrain or visual strain.  Blue light below 460 nm is what has been linked to oxidative retinal damage. The cumulative effect of this light has been linked to the potential development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness for people over 55.  So, light below 460nm has been labeled ‘bad blue light’.

What is “good” blue light?

Blue light above 460nm controls the secretion of our sleep hormone, melatonin.  In what used to be considered a normal day, we would wake up in the morning, receive exposure to sunlight, and our body’s internal clock would tell our pineal gland to stop secreting melatonin.  This would make us feel awake, alert, energetic, and some would say happy.  This is how we want to feel during the day, thus the term ‘good blue light’ has been used to describe these longer blue wavelengths.  In fact, in some climates where sunlight is scarce during winter, people have less blue light exposure and may develop seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in which they feel tired and depressed.  Therapy lights that emit long blue light wavelengths are a common treatment for SAD.

When does “good” blue light go bad?

Digital devices emit the full spectrum of blue light. Exposure to longer wavelength blue light at night affects melatonin secretion and disrupts our sleep.  Should we really classify 460-500nm light as good when it interferes with our ability to fall asleep? Is it a good thing that our children are not getting enough sleep, which for some may lead to ADHD-like symptoms? How happy are we to be awake at 2:00 a.m. because we worked on our computer or tablet until 11:00 p.m., delaying the onset of melatonin secretion?

None of these implications that are currently being extensively researched sound very good. While we need exposure to 460-490nm light during the day, we don’t need it after sunset.  So, when you hear the term ‘good blue light’, take care to keep it in the proper context.  Your health could depend on it.

This is a guest blog post by Gary Morgan, O.D.
Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/blue-light-good-and-bad


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  • Home
  • The Family
    • The Doctors
    • The Staff
    • In the Community
    • Testimonials
  • Insurance
  • Patient Forms
    • New Patient Demographic Form
    • My Medical Records
  • Resources
    • Retinal Imaging
    • Dry Eye Treatments
    • Blurry Near Vision
    • Contact Lenses >
      • More Information for Contact Lens Wearers
    • Blue Light Exposure
    • Sports Eye Injury Prevention
    • Ocular Conditions
  • Frames
    • Lenses