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What is blue light?
We sometimes hear the term “blue light” and that modern digital devices in particular are harmful because of the presence of this light. But how exactly does it affect eye health and what can we do to protect our eyes? Let’s take a closer look at what blue light is and how absorbing a certain amount of light waves every day can prevent vision problems.
The spectrum of violet, blue and cyan wavelengths is called HEVL. It has the shortest wavelength and highest energy of all types of visible light. Natural blue is ultraviolet light emitted by the sun. This light is dangerous not only to the eyes, but also to the skin when sunbathing. On sunny days, sunglasses protect your eyes and prevent many problems.
Artificial blue light comes from everyday objects such as fluorescent and energy-saving light bulbs. Modern smartphones, laptops, desktops and televisions also emit this colour. In our world, gadgets have become an integral part of how we live and work, making this problem all the more urgent.
What are the dangers of blue light?
Blue light radiation directly affects a person’s biological (circadian) rhythms, vitality and sleep cycles. This is why doctors do not recommend the use of mobile devices just before bedtime. Due to the presence of blue light from devices in our lives, modern people have a slower synthesis of the sleep hormone melatonin. Over time, the response to the onset of darkness slows down and it becomes more difficult to fall asleep.
Blue causes a decrease in visual acuity. The rays of this spectrum are concentrated just in front of the retina, causing blurred images. Blue light can affect the survival of corneal cells, causing the eye to become dry and inflamed, leading to full-blown dry eye syndrome.
What can you do if, for some reason, you can’t reduce the time you spend working with electronic equipment?
The first thing to do is to make sure that the device is placed at the correct distance from your eyes. You should also adjust the brightness and contrast of the screen. There are special programmes that can automatically adjust the screen to a comfortable brightness, or you can adjust the screen yourself to make it warmer.
Special glasses that absorb harmful blue radiation are now available. Computer glasses are effective both during the day and at night when reading or watching films before going to bed. Unfortunately, in today’s society, the concept of working at a computer during the day is rather vague. What is certain is that it is advisable to stop using mobile devices two to three hours before going to bed. This is a good time to go for a walk or read a book.
Fluorescent or LED lights in the bedroom are a source of blue light, which increases the risk of sleep disturbance. As a general rule, bright lamps should not be used in the bedroom, but rather a night light or a candle holder.
It is worth remembering that young people should pay more attention to protecting their eyes from the negative effects of blue light.
In adolescence, the eye lens is transparent and fragile, making it more susceptible to negative influences. In adulthood, due to the peculiarities of the lens structure, it becomes more yellow and begins to absorb the blue spectrum more actively. Young eyes do not have this privilege and light penetrates the eye more easily.
Ophthalmologists recommend taking an hourly break from working at the computer and papers.
The best form of rest is eye exercises, which are easy to do at work. After all, at work we are concentrating on the information on the screen, which means we blink less and need to keep our eyes moist. Looking into the distance, drawing circles, turning your eyes for a few seconds and then closing them can also help relieve eye strain.
In hot weather, take a walk in the fresh air during your lunch break. Have your eyes tested once or twice a year, unless you have personal contraindications or medical conditions. Do not use medicines, even harmless moisturizing eye drops, without the advice of a doctor. In such cases, treating the symptoms without identifying and treating the cause with the help of a doctor will be ineffective.