Between working from home or spending a good portion of your day in front of a computer, scrolling on your phone, then ending the evening with your latest Netflix binge, it's safe to say that your screen time is up there, which also increases your level of blue light (light that is emitted through digital screens) exposure. Protecting your vision as much as you can is crucial!
We're here to help you give those pretty eyes some screen relief with blue light blocking glasses and we have a few tips to help reduce your exposure.
What is blue light?
Why is overexposure to blue light harmful?
While some natural blue light (from the sun) can actually be good for you, too much artificial blue light is not and can promote a myriad of health issues + have lasting physical effects. Aside from headaches, dry/irritated eyes, blurry vision and light sensitivity, one of the most common issues is Digital Eye Strain (DES) and recent reports show that over 60% of Americans experience symptoms.
Because blue light penetrates further back into the eye, prolonged exposure can cause damage to the cells in the retina (the inner lining of the back of the eye). More research is needed to determine how much natural and artificial blue light is "too much blue light" for the retina, but many eye-care professionals are concerned that the increase of blue light exposure from digital devices could increase a person's risk of macular degeneration, which can potentially lead to permanent vision loss.
Blue light is also known to disrupt your sleep schedule because it interferes with your circadian rhythm (the internal clock that tells you when it’s time to sleep or be awake).
Tips on improving your digital lifestyle:
- Buy reading glasses with UV Protection and Blue Light blocking technology
- Download an app to block blue light from your devices
- The 20-20-20 Rule - When working on a screen, every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds, an exercise recommended by the American Optometric Association
- Change the color tone option on your computer monitor to “warm”
- Put your digital devices down 2-hours prior to your bedtime.
- Set your iPhone to “Night Shift” from 9pm to 7am – The Night Shift function changes the colors of the phone display to warmer colors, so you are exposed to less blue light
- Buy reduced-blue LED lights for your home and office to warm up your surroundings
- Limit overall screen time
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our Eyeglass collections which feature a variety of lens options – TruBlu lenses being one of them! The lenses block and filter out the blue light, protect your eyes from glare, and can help reduce potential damage to your retina.
Oh & be sure to keep your eyes peeled -- we have a new Blue Light Blocking collection coming your way!
Love your eyes.
Love,
Velvet
