Most of us spend an entire day staring at a computer screen in our job, myself included. That has lead to a lot of eye strain from the blue light emitting from my flat screen monitor. I picked up a pair of blue light glasses and they are amazing.
Could blue light glasses help with eye fatigue?
Do you find yourself ending the day with red, itchy and burning eyes?
Have you been getting headaches that you can’t chalk up to a few too many lockdown drinks? Perhaps you have a stiff neck too? Then you could be experiencing the symptoms of digital eye strain.
The condition – although mostly temporary, with symptoms usually disappearing after a break from screen use, according to BUPA – is uncomfortable and can occur when you spend too long staring at digital devices.
And if you’re currently working on a computer all day then spending several more hours in front of Netflix in the evening, it’s no wonder your eyes are feeling more exhausted than usual.
What is Blue Light and Is it Bad?
Just as with UV rays, the sun emits blue light naturally. But electronic screens and energy-efficient lighting also emit blue light wavelengths, which can boost our attention, mood, and reaction times, according to Harvard. That can be an advantage during the daytime, but at night, that light color can disrupt our circadian rhythm (a.k.a. our internal clock) by suppressing the body’s melatonin secretion. Translation: Exposure to more blue light especially two to three hours before bed can cause us to get less sleep.
It’s worth noting that eye experts maintain that blue light won’t cause blindness or age-related macular degeneration. As retinal disease specialist David J. Ramsey, MD, PhD, MPH, writes for Harvard, average amounts of blue light from our everyday devices aren’t intense enough to damage the retina.