WHAT IS THE BLUE LIGHT AND HOW CAN PROTECT OUR EYES FROM THE COMPUTER?
The computer, the tablet and the mobile phone are an integral part of our daily lives. However, these devices emit a blue light that, on the one hand, allows us to see with greater clarity and brightness, while on the other hand, it could cause irreversible problems to our eye health without any proper protection.
What is the blue light?
In recent years, more and more studies indicate the negative effect of a part of the visible spectrum, which “neighbors” with the ultraviolet radiation. This part of visible spectrum has a range of 380 - 500 nm (nanometers) and concerns the blue light. The blue light energy is almost twice the energy of the red light found at the other end of the visible spectrum.
Due to this very high light energy, the blue light is used in all modern LED displays or even in lamps of low consumption ("energy saving lamps").
The problems from the blue light the LED screens emit, increase when the screen we use is very close to our eyes and for a long time - something that is directly related to the large amounts of energy they emit, since 40% of brightness from a LED display consists of blue light.
On the other hand, the blue light has also beneficial properties and any potential blocking could cause problems in the human organism such as psychomotor disorders, memory problems, metabolic effects, depression, deregulation of the
biological clock, etc. Thus, yes, we need protection from blue light but by no means its complete cessation, as this would create other health problems.
A natural protection
Fortunately, our body has a protection mechanism against this particular spectrum of light: there are pigments located inside the eye, which create a real natural filter of protection, that is enhanced by eating vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. However, over the time, the function of these pigments decreases, resulting in a filter’s weakening.
What happens when the natural filter of protection does not work properly?
The degenerative cells absorb the blue light causing a chemical reaction that creates toxicity to the other eye cells, which accelerates the destruction of the retinal cells. When the weakening of the natural filter derived from the old age, then someone could take dietary supplements in order to replenish the lower absorption of pigments by the body, but also antioxidants that stop toxicity and protect the cells.
Do we need a special protection for the blue light?
Prevention is always the best "doctor". Given this fact, the simplest thing someone could do is to include fruits and vegetables with bright colors in the daily nutrition, which are rich in antioxidants and pigments for the retina (such as, for example, lutein) .
Apart from the above, an additional protection is recommended for those spending many hours in from of a PC screen of tablet due to their job. In the past, the most common method of protection was the eyeglasses with lens filters of orange color.
However, this solution had the disadvantage of distorting the colors and the difficulty in separating one color from another - an option that was obviously not the most appropriate solution, especially for those who had to use computers that display graphics and images at work. Fortunately nowadays, the modern blue light filters are made in transparent lenses that do not alter the perception of colors but only to a minimum.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the radiation of blue light increases along with the improvement of the quality of the screens, thus it is considered almost certain that the eye diseases related to overexposure to it (such as, for example, premature cataract) will increasingly concern a larger portion of the population in the future. Especially if we take into account the fact that the use of computers, tablets and mobile phones nowadays starts from the early childhood.
How do I know if the blue light has started having a negative effect on my body?
Usually, the first symptoms that should worry us are the following:
- Redness or irritation of the eyes
- Dry eye, Blurred Vision, Fatigue
- Lower Back pain
- Headache
What are the advantages of modern lenses with a special filter for blue light?
Modern coated lenses for blue light protect the eyes from the use of computers, reducing visual fatigue, improving color contrast and eliminating the glare caused by artificial lighting, which in the past caused significant discomfort and gradual fatigue.
The advantages of these filters are immediately noticeable especially to the relaxation of the eyes, as they offer a more natural perception of colors, better contrast and reduction of blur.
At Vardavas Optics you will find all the ophthalmic lenses with special filters for the blue light (with or without degrees of myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism or presbyopia) as it collaborates with all branded companies in the market. These lenses will provide the ideal protection against computer / tablet / smartphone use during free time or work.
