We are used to being surrounded by screens and digital lighting wherever we turn. So no wonder we’ve earned ourselves the title of a ‘digital generation’. However useful our devices might be and no matter how easier they make our day-to-day lives, it goes without saying that they have a few noticeable negative effects and consequences on our lives and health.
Recent studies have shown that a person spends an average of 9+ hours a day working behind or focusing on a type of digital screen – be it computer screens, tablets or smartphones.
So what exactly is the thing that causes the all-too-known eye dryness and burning sensation or the troublesome headaches that make it hard to focus? In short, the answer is blue light.
AND WHAT EXACTLY IS BLUE LIGHT?
Let’s break it down. The light we see – the visible light – contains a range of wavelengths and energy. Blue light, or HEV (High-Energy visible light), is the part of the visible light spectrum that contains the highest energy. Precisely because of its high energy, blue light has the power of harming your eyes – more than any other light in the spectrum. Typically, this light is found somewhere from 380 to 500 nm wavelength, close to the ultraviolet – or UV – end of the spectrum.
Though it is naturally emitted by the sun and artificially by digital screens, it is between 415 nm to 455 nm where it is considered to be the strongest. The energy of this kind of light then results in the recurrent flashing and the glare, coming from our digital screens.
It is important to realise that blue light – when your eyes are overly exposed to it – has the potential of harming the light-sensitive cells inside your retina. This is because nearly all visible blue light rays can pass through the cornea and lens to the retina.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS TO BLUE LIGHT EXPOSURE?
Prolonged or constant exposure to blue light has a number of consequences, many of which may at first resemble general tiredness.
Some of those are:
- eye strain,
- eye dryness,
- burning sensation in the eyes,
- headaches and migraines,
- mental and physical fatigue,
- blurred vision,
- double vision.
What’s even more important – blue light very negatively affects our sleep pattern and quality of sleep; it is in charge of regulating the circadian rhythm of our bodies – or the sleep/wake cycles.
So, naturally, overexposure to blue light – especially in the night time – can affect sleep routines, and additionally cause Computer-Vision Syndrome (CVS) symptoms to appear.
WHAT IS COMPUTER-VISION SYNDROME (CVS)?
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) refers to vision discomfort and eye problems that might appear after prolonged stress of our eyes, when we spend a number of hours in front of digital screens – such as computers, tablets, smartphones, and even the television. CVS is also known as Digital Eye Strain, as this is precisely one of its most frequent symptoms.
WHAT CAUSES COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME?
CVS affects about 90% of the people who spend three or more hours at a computer or digital screen of other kind. One leading reason it might appear is concentrating and looking at a screen constantly, having no breaks in between and thus over-burdening your eyes, so they become fatigued. Your eyes are continuously shifting focus and while looking at the screen, the eyes have to keep adjusting, so the eye muscles are always fully activated. So naturally, the more time we spend behind a screen, the more our eyes have to work, and, ultimately, become exhausted.
The second reason is no doubt the flashing glare that the screens give off. This goes hand in hand with the first reason, as it is another factor that makes it harder for our eyes to focus.
HOW DO I PREVENT CVS WITH BLUE LIGHT GLASSES?
Avoiding symptoms of CVS is easy, the best way is by controlling the blue light and glare from our screens – or even blocking it completely. One of the best ways to avoid Computer-Vision Syndrome is using blue light blocking glasses. These don’t need a prescription, and are excellent at doing their job of filtering the blue light.
SO, WHY BLUE LIGHT GLASSES?
Besides being prescription-free and being a stylish addition to your everyday look, they are the best way to minimize the amount of blue light that travels to your retina and minimize the damage it could cause to your near vision. The lenses of blue light glasses are made with a special filter that helps control or block the visible blue light that is projected from digital screens and make the glasses great for daily wear. So if you tend to be mostly surrounded by objects projecting blue light, you can wear the glasses all day long.
We’ve made sure that in our collections you are able to find glasses with high quality blue light filtering lenses, combined with wonderful stylish frames that range from classic to modern – so no matter your preferences, you’re sure to find something for yourself!