Understanding the effects of blue light on your eyesight is an important part of maintaining good eye health and recognizing March as Save Your Vision Month, a nationwide observance sponsored by the American Optometric Association.
The sky. The ocean. Jeans. Smurfs. If you guessed things that are blue, you are correct. Blue is one of the most popular colors in the universe, but to your eyes, blue light is potentially harmful.
What is blue light?
Blue light is one of the seven colors in the visible light spectrum — what the human eye can see. Because blue light travels in the shortest, lowest electromagnetic wavelength, it produces the most high-energy visible (HEV) light.
Of all visible light, about one-third is blue light. The sun is the greatest source of blue light, and absorbing large amounts of this high-energy light can increase your risk for eye disease. Artificial light sources that emit blue light, such as TVs, computers, laptops, tablets, cellphones, and fluorescent and LED lights are increasingly under scrutiny for causing damage to eyesight.
How is blue light harmful to my eyesight?
Blue light is the type of energy that sneaks through all the components of the eye, starting with the cornea until it reaches the retina. Blue light is the one color the retina dislikes. Too much blue light exposure makes vision fuzzy. So you’re literally fighting clarity in your vision just being on a computer all day.
Blue light is so high energy that it bleaches the cells of the fovea, in the back-central portion of the retina that gives you high-acuity vision. Damaging this section of the eye contributes to macular degeneration. Overexposure to blue light can cause the following vision problems:
- Dry eyes
- Tired eyes
- Eye strain
- Poor visual contrast
- Headaches
- Higher risk for eye and retinal disease
In addition to interfering with your vision, blue light also produces a type of enzyme that travels the optic nerve to your brain and shuts down the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle of nightly rest. This is why viewing too much blue light before bed can disrupt your sleep.
Does blue light affect younger people with good eyesight?
Gradual deterioration of our eyesight begins the minute we open our eyes after birth. As the eye naturally develops in childhood, the lens behind the pupil and iris filters bad light. When we’re born, this lens is clear. Through natural exposure to sunlight, this lens will start to become opaque, and this developmental process continues until around age 20.
Unfortunately, children are sitting around with electrical gadgets close to their face, and they’re getting high, high levels of blue light back to the retina. Every child should have a blue-blocking lens. Every child, whether they need glasses or not. I’ve had wise mothers come in and buy their children a pair of blue-blocking glasses. The children don’t need a visual correction, but the parents want to protect their kids’ eyes from blue light. Overexposure damage to blue light shows up later in life, but the problem starts when we are young.
How can I protect my eyesight from blue light?
While you can’t avoid blue light exposure completely, you can use screen filters on your digital electronic devices and limit your time each day in front of blue-light screens. You can also wear yellow-tinted computer glasses, but there is now a better eyewear solution to block blue light.
What is the best eyewear protection from blue light?
At think we fit the best eyeglass lenses on the market. We use Shamir Blue Zero™ lenses, which block three times more harmful blue light than standard clear lenses. This patented lens is not just coated to reflect blue light, the Shamir lens actually absorbs blue light into the lens itself.
You see a lot of online companies promoting blue-blocker eyewear, but people who wear these in everyday life have purples and blues reflecting off their lenses. That is not the better answer because reflection causes static in your vision and you do not see as clearly. With Shamir Blue Zero lenses, we get rid of the reflection and your glasses look natural. No yellow or orange tints, no reflecting purples and blues.
The Blue Zero lenses are also extremely durable because of multiple layers of scratch-resistant coating and premium anti-glare protection. In addition, these are dual-surface digital lenses that give you the best optics of any lens available. They are far superior to lenses that are stamped out of a mold from low-grade plastic.
Why is now an ideal time to wear blue light-blocking glasses?
Blue-blocking technology has been around for about 30 years but has significantly improved. The original lens were unsightly, yellow-looking lenses. Today Shamir’s patented blue-light absorption lenses are definitely the best route to go. Shamir blue-light lens get raving reviews by doctors in all the ophthalmology and optometry magazines for a reason.
Plus, Shamir lenses are very affordable. At our think Optical Center, we have the best prices in Omaha compared to our competitors. We also offer AARP®, veteran, EyeMed and Avesis discounts. Nobody is going to beat our quality and price.
Save Your Vision Month is not the only time to be proactive about protecting your eye health from blue light and other conditions that can permanently affect your eyesight. Our team of personable and knowledgeable optometry professionals offers comprehensive eye exams, proper fitting of glasses and contacts and just-stop-in adjustments on your glasses.
Rest assured, if we find any health concerns during your regular eye exam, we can instantly contact other healthcare providers in the building, and together we can collaborate on the best care for you. We’re located in the low blue-light Optical Center in the think lobby. We are always glad to see you!
NEED MEDICAL CARE? CONSIDER THINK YOUR GO-TO FOR BETTER HEALTH
Think Whole Person Healthcare is dedicated to keeping you healthy through preventative care and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. From the troublesome cataract to the persistent joint pain, all our physicians, advanced practice providers and specialists are committed to you and your family’s lifelong health and well-being.
Our walk-in clinic treats anyone, even those who are not a think patient or do not have a primary care provider currently. To learn more about our comprehensive healthcare services, visit our Services page online and choose your own think medical professionals by visiting our Meet Your Doctor page.
Stop by think’s Optical Center to have your glasses adjusted, or call 402.506.9003 for your eyeglass or contact needs. To schedule an appointment, please call 402.506.9127.