Importance of Blue Light Lenses on Glasses

Have you heard of blue light? Most people have, but one of the biggest misconceptions about blue light is that it's only emitted from digital screens such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. However, blue light is actually all around us all the time. Sunlight is one of the main sources of blue light and is the reason that we see the sky as being blue on a day where there are limited or no clouds. When the sun shines, the blue light waves are reflected and bounced around the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the sky to display varying shades of blue. 
 

Blue light is one of a number of visible shades of light on the spectrum. However, it has a short wavelength which means it is very high in energy. The trouble with this is that excessive exposure to blue light can cause a range of unpleasant and debilitating symptoms. And unfortunately, our eyes aren’t particularly good at blocking out blue light. This might not be a problem if it was only natural blue light we had to worry about. However, the increasing amount of time we now spend using digital devices means that we are now exposed to more blue light than ever before. The LED lights used in these devices are also brighter than before, meaning that the effects of blue light are more significant. 

The Harmful Effects of Blue Light

As we know, overexposure to blue light can have some disruptive and even harmful effects. This is because almost all visible blue light passes through the cornea and lens of the eye, reaching the retina. This light may potentially affect vision and could prematurely age the eyes. Other effects of blue light exposure include but are not limited to:
 

Disruptions to our natural sleep/wake cycle if we are exposed to blue light at the wrong times. For example, screen time just before bed has been proven to make it harder to fall asleep

Digital eyestrain. This condition has a number of different symptoms associated with it, including problems focusing, blurred vision, headaches, neck pain, and upper back pain. 
 

Dry eye syndrome. This is where the surface of the eyes becomes too dry. This can be caused by a number of different things, including too much blue light. This is because when we are focused on screens, we naturally tend to blink less and this means that tear film isn’t distributed over the surface of the eyes as often as it needs to be to keep the eyes hydrated. 

Retinal damage. Studies have suggested that continual exposure to blue light could cause the cells of the retina to become damaged and degenerate much more quickly. This can lead to the onset of conditions like macular degeneration and put you at greater risk of vision issues such as retinal detachment. 

What are Blue Light Lenses?

As their name suggests, blue light lenses are designed to block out or absorb blue light so that it doesn’t affect your eyes. While wearing them, you can significantly reduce the effects of over-exposure and prevent damage to your eyes. Blue light glasses aren’t meant to be worn all the time and your eye doctor will recommend that you wear them during the day while working in front of a computer. This will eliminate the excess exposure you might otherwise experience, while still ensuring that you get enough natural blue light during the day to still reap the benefits that it affords. 

Blue light lenses can usually be made to suit any prescription and your eye doctor will able able to advise you if you could benefit from this solution.

If you would like to find out more about blue light and the importance of blue light lenses, our knowledgeable and experienced team would be delighted to help. Please contact our office in Cave Creek, AZ to speak to us or to schedule an appointment.