5 Important Reasons Why You Should be Wearing Blue Light Glasses

People spend more time than ever in front of a digital device, whether it’s their phones, tablets, or a television screen. Adults reportedly spend upwards of six hours a day, and teens look at a screen around seven hours a day.

In addition to musculoskeletal and physiological issues that can result from spending that much time scrolling through social media, reading news, or watching TV shows, screen time and blue light can impact your eye health. Sophia Barnes, OD, and the team at Vision Corner are blue light experts. Here, we explain why you should use blue light blocking glasses. 

What is blue light?

Blue light is everywhere. It’s found in the sun’s rays and is emitted from the fluorescent lighting and screens of electronic devices. 

The sun contains all colors of light, including red, orange, green, and blue. Each of these colors emits different energy levels. Red light, for example, has longer wavelengths and less energy. Blue light, on the other end of the spectrum, has shorter wavelengths and more energy.

While you get most of your exposure to blue light from the sun when outside, people are now getting more exposure than ever when they’re inside — from their screens. This excessive exposure to blue light has some eye health professionals worried.

Why you should try blue light glasses 

More and more, work and social life revolve around looking at a screen for multiple hours every day. To combat the effects of too much blue light exposure, consider wearing blue light protection. Here are five reasons that wearing these glasses may be able to help you.

Better sleep

In the same way a walk outside in the sunlight can help you feel alert; spending time on a screen before bed can also make you feel alert. Short wavelengths delay release of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone that naturally starts releasing into your system a couple of hours before bedtime. 

Using a tablet or other type of screen before bed can delay this release, making it harder to fall asleep right away. If you’re unable to turn off your device an hour or two before bed, as sleep experts recommend, using blue light glasses may help you sleep better. 

Less eye strain

Looking at a screen all day can make you feel stressed, or you may experience eye and muscle strain. Ergonomic adjustments can help reduce the muscle issues associated with sitting at a desk and looking at a screen all day. Blue light blocking glasses can help reduce eye strain. 

Blue light can make it difficult to focus on the screen, making your eyes strain to concentrate. Blue light glasses help increase contrast on your screen, making it easier to focus and subsequently reduce eye strain.

Fewer headaches

Light, especially blue light, can trigger migraines and exacerbate headache pain. Blocking blue light with special glasses may reduce migraine attacks and reduce headaches and headache pain.

Reduced risk of eye diseases

Your cornea and eye lens are good at blocking out harmful UV light from reaching the retina. However, they can’t block blue light. Damage to the retina can increase your risk of developing macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness.

Blue light can penetrate your retina and possibly lead to macular degeneration-like symptoms and may increase your risk of developing cataracts. Wearing protection can help prevent this.

Your device is here to stay

You can avoid many of these issues related to blue light by stepping away from your computer, reading a book instead of watching TV, and limiting the use of your tablet and phone. If you’re not prepared to take these measures, blue light glasses can help you. 

Are you ready to improve your eye health with blue light glasses? Call Vision Corner in Houston, Texas, for an appointment today with expert blue light glasses optometrist Dr. Barnes.