Can staring at your tablets and phones be harmful to your eyes?
It is long known that exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation can increase your risk for early-onset cataracts, macular degeneration and eyelid cancer. Did you know that your eyes are also sensitive to a portion of the blue light in the visible spectrum of light? Blue light (Blue-turquoise 465-495nm) benefits us by acting to regulate the circadian cycle and allows us to reset our biological clocks. While Blue-violet light (415-455 nm) can cause harmful oxidative changes to the retinal pigment epithelium cells promoting retinal damage.
Blue light is not only found in the visible spectrum but is now used frequently in illuminating cell phones, computers and tablets. Energy-efficient fluorescent light and LED lights also emit blue light. How many hours a day do you spend on your cell phones and computers in a room illuminated by LED lighting or fluorescent lighting? Exposure to large quantities of blue light can cause an increase risk for macular degeneration. Therefore, people who have a family history or an increase risk of developing macular degeneration should consider protecting their eyes from harmful blue light exposure.
Historically, blue blocking glasses were available but did not gain much popularity because the lenses were amber tinted and it changed the way people perceived color. Now, there are anti-reflective coatings available with blue-blocking filters that no longer impact color perception. Speak with your optometrist or ophthalmologist whether you can benefit from these protective features.
