Why is it Important to Protect your Eyes from Blue Light Exposure?

Lately, blue light is a recurrent topic to talk about, regarding the potential dangers it may cause to our eyes. Therefore, it is essential to regularly visit clinics and studies that offer proper eye care advice.

What is the Blue Light?

 The blue light is part of the visible light, the spectrum that the human eye can perceive. This light is issued by some natural sources, such as the Sun, and it also comes from artificial sources, such as electrical devices. Overall, a 25% of the white light is, actually, blue light, a natural component of the light.

Rays of different colours, being blue amongst those colours, compose the light that our eyes can perceive. The colours we perceive are the result of the reflection of a

longitudinal wave over a surface and the absorption of the rest. Let’s say that, if we see the red colour, it is because its surface reflects the longitudinal wave in the colour red while absorbs the remaining colours.

Blue lights are not the same then UV rays, as these rays are not visible to our eyes.

Why is this Blue Light Dangerous for our Vision?

Inside of the blue light spectrum, there is a wide range of blue tones, which have different waves, not being all of them dangerous. Below I offer some insights regarding the effects of the various blue light tones.

• Blue-violet light. It has the shortest longitudinal wave and has high quantities of energy. It can cause fatigue and visual stress, as well as eye ageing visual disorders. In a nutshell, it affects in a negative way to our retinal cells, which is part of the macula, a highly sensitive part of the eye. The macula is located in the back of the eye.
• Blue-turquoise light. On the other hand, this tone has many benefits for our health, as it is in charge of regulating our ‘biological clock’. It regulates our sleep cycles, body temperature and our cognitive and memory processes. When our biological clock is not performing as expected, our body shows different alterations such as chronic fatigue, gastric changes, disorientation, changes of humour, etc. The blue-turquoise light is also determinant to the accurate perception of the colours, as well as for having a good visual keenness as part of the visual light.

Watch out Those Screens

If your vision is exposed to artificial light sources, your retina may suffer the consequences. The visible light from LED lights, and the mobile devices screens, as well as tablets, computers and so on, are extremely dangerous for our vision. Their use has increase year over year. On top of that, we are used to playing with devices at a very short distance from our eyes, which make double the degree of exposure.

Protect your Eyes from those Devices

• Maintain a healthy diet. Eat fruits and vegetables, which will give you antioxidants that are good for your retina. Kiwis, red grapes, and pumpkins contain the best vitamins for your vision, such as lutein and zeaxanthin.
• Use proper glasses. Even if you do not use prescription glasses, you can purchase protective eyewear, such as blue light filter glasses.
• Take breaks while using these devices. It is essential to recover when using those devices to take breaks. A good practice might be to look at the horizon for a couple of minutes. And also, if you are working on a computer, do not look at your smartphone while on break.

Other Associated Pathologies

• Visual stress. It usually happens when you work on those devices using just a bit of light. Your eyes might become itchy or tired, and these bad habits can even cause you a headache.
• Heart rhythm disorder. Another effect caused by the use of these devices is produced during the night, as with the nightlight, your brain is confused by the intensity of the light. Electronic devices lights can alter your sleep cycles, causing insomnia and can cause serious health problems.

To sum up, having good and healthy habits are key if you are dealing with these sources of blue light, as their effects, in the long run, might be lethal. It may be worth for you to work on a daily routine that enables you to take on short breaks to protect your vision from potential damages.