With average screen time reaching 13 hours per day, 94% of eye doctors say they are concerned about blue light exposure. The conversation surrounding blue light is growing, but many people aren’t aware of the risks.
To properly protect yourself from blue light, you need a general understanding of what it is and why the medical community is concerned. In this article, we asked eye doctors to weigh in on the most frequently asked questions about blue light.
What is blue light?
Dr. Dagny Zhu, a nationally acclaimed, board-certified ophthalmologist, explains “Blue light is all around us. The largest source of blue light is the sun, but blue light is a concern because it also comes from digital devices. The screens that we sit so close to every day are emitting small amounts of blue light. We know that blue light is a form of high-energy light, similar to ultraviolet light, and there’s growing evidence that blue light may have effects on our eyes. We may need to take more precaution to protect our eyes against blue light exposure, just as we do to protect our eyes from ultraviolet light.
How does blue light affect our sleep?
Dr. Mitch Jackson, a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery, says “Blue light inhibits melatonin, and we know melatonin is key with our sleep patterns and circadian rhythm. We all know if you don’t sleep well, you lose productivity, you don’t perform well, you get crabby. Lack of sleep can also affect your personal life as well as your work life.
How do you manage blue light?
According to Dr. Zhu, “With screens becoming an essential part of school and work, finding methods to make screen time safe is important. A lot of healthcare professionals recommend the 20-20-20 rule, which allows you to give your eyes a break by looking at an object that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. However, remembering to do that isn’t always realistic. Some easy ways to lower blue light exposure are to wear a pair of doctor-recommended blue light blocking glasses or apply a filter onto your digital devices that block out blue light.
Digital screens are integral to our lifestyle, and most healthcare experts agree that blue light protection is important to our wellbeing. Watch the video below to hear more about blue light from highly-respected eye doctors. You can also visit the Eyesafe website for blue light solutions.
About Eyesafe
Eyesafe Inc. is a world leader in blue light management, including display technology, standards, certification, and accessory solutions. With an expansive portfolio of intellectual property, the company employs a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers, and scientists with decades of experience in electronics, display materials, light management, optometry, and ophthalmology. The Eyesafe brand is trusted by consumers and integrated in millions of digital devices from Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, ZAGG and more. Eyesafe is recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing private companies in America for the second consecutive year. Learn more at eyesafe.com.