Have you ever noticed that your eyes hurt or get tired after looking at screens for a long time? Some eyeglasses claim to protect our eyes from damaging light coming from these screens. Are these types of glasses necessary?
Blue light is just one of the colors of the visible spectrum. The visible spectrum is the range of wavelengths [the distance from one peak to the next in a wave] of light that humans can see. Blue light has a shorter wavelength than other colors of the visible spectrum. Since blue light has a shorter wavelength, it has higher energy. This means that it can damage your eyes.
Research has shown that over time, natural blue light can damage the retina [part of the eye that sends signals to the brain]. Many of the devices we use every day also give off blue light. These include computer screens, televisions, and phones. The amount of blue light given off by these devices is much less than the amount in natural sunlight and has not been shown to damage the eye.
So why do screens make your eyes hurt? When you look at a screen, you blink less frequently. This dries your eyes and results in eye strain. But don’t worry—this does not cause permanent damage, and it is easily preventable. Ophthalmologists [eye doctors] recommend a “20-20-20” rule. Every 20 minutes, take a break from the screen to look at something 20 feet or more away for 20 seconds or more.
Another negative effect of screens is a disruption in sleep patterns. During the day, natural blue light keeps us awake. This means that looking at screens before going to bed can make it hard to fall asleep. Experts recommend limiting screen time in the two to three hours before bedtime.
What Do You Think? Are blue-light-blocking glasses necessary?
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