The average American looks at a digital screen for approximately 7.4 hours a day. This consistent use already contributes to dry eye syndrome, but constant exposure to blue light emitted from screens such as your smartphone, tablet or laptop can cause digital eye strain, sleep problems and could even make you more likely to develop macular degeneration. Blue light protection glasses may help preserve your vision and make it easier to fall asleep at night.
How is Blue Light Harmful?
Blue light is naturally found in sunlight, and there are two variations: blue-turquoise light and blue-violet light. Blue-turquoise light can help you fall asleep easily at night, but blue-violet light disrupts your circadian rhythms and can leave you with vision damage. Your eye is good at blocking UV light from reaching the light-sensitive area (retina) in the back of your eyeball, but it’s not very effective at stopping blue light from reaching your retina. Recent research suggests certain blue light wavelengths from digital screens and LED lights can result in retinal cell death similar to the damage caused by macular degeneration.
Blue Light Glasses and Lenses
Our eye doctors in Northern Pennsylvania offer blue light protection eyeglasses that have a special type of coating to filter out blue light. These glasses allow you to look at digital screens without being exposed to harmful waves. The lenses stop blue-violet light and allow the good type of blue light to pass through the lens. The glasses improve contrast and lower the brightness of the screen to reduce eye strain and protect your retina. These lenses balance the colors coming from digital screens to help keep your eyes healthy and your circadian rhythms on track. These glasses could be especially beneficial following cataract surgery.
If you struggle with dry eyes, digital eye strain or have difficulty falling asleep, please contact the Northeastern Eye Institute in Pennsylvania today at 855-204-6888 to schedule your eye exam. We serve patients in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and surrounding Pennsylvania areas.