We live in an era where screens dictate our every move and even our toasters are connected to Wi-Fi. We can barely enjoy a meal if it is not in front of a screen. The glow of blue light has become as addictive as our morning coffee – and maybe just as disruptive. We go from a medium screen during working hours to rewarding ourselves with a small screen in between, and end off our day with a big screen, (whilst holding the small one.) They are everywhere, and we love them. However, the term “blue light” has put quite a damper on this love affair. It is time to shed some light on the dark side of our beloved screens.
Japanese-American engineer Shuji Nakamura invented the artificial blue light we know today as LED. It forms part of the visible light spectrum which the human eye can see, and most of the blue light we are exposed to actually comes from the sun. The wavelengths of the artificial blue lights are extremely similar to those of ultraviolet light and are shorter than any other colour. The light is also higher in energy than any other colour. Research has shown that wavelengths of blue light between 415 and 455 nanometres may cause considerable harm to the human eye. The wavelengths of the light emitting from our phones, TVs, and laptops can go up to 490 nanometres.
Constant exposure to these wavelengths can damage your retinal cells and cause various vision problems. It may also cause cataracts and even eye cancer. Dr Rahul Khurana from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, however, warns against certain preventive measures of blue light. He states that there is a lack of evidence surrounding the glasses that claim to protect our eyes against blue light, and it may even be more damaging than the light itself. The only danger Dr Khurana warns against is the fact that blue light can affect our sleeping patterns. Blue light suppresses melatonin in our bodies, the hormone that makes us feel tired when our bodies need rest.
Justin Sherman and Ronald L Benner, doctors of optometry, have both come to the conclusion that blue light is in fact not as dangerous as many others have proclaimed. The doctors state that there is just not enough evidence that suggests average exposure to blue light damages eyesight or may cause cancer. Blue light has just gotten a bad rap.
Dr Benner notes, however, that “eye strain” is a very real and frustrating occurrence amongst screen users. The headaches and blurry vision may only be the result of hours of screen time. PDBY thus has a few tips on how to manage “eye strain”:
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule.
Dr Benner suggests that every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, take a 20-second break and look at something in the distance that is at least 20 feet away.
- Put some distance between you and your device.
This will help your eyes to adjust to the screen better. Use a bigger font or use the zoom feature on your device.
- Decrease the amount of light on your device.
Not only will you save battery life, but you will be taking care of your eyes as well! Most devices even have a built-in blue light filtering feature.
It remains uncertain whether we should fear this blue light brigade. The symptoms we may be experiencing while using our devices could only be the result of our eyes getting tired, rather than a blue death-ray piercing through our skulls. Blue light thus does not deserve a spot on your list of things to worry about just yet. Nevertheless, we ought to use these screens with caution… as we never know what evidence may pile up in the future. Happy screening!
