Sometimes it can seem overwhelming to always have to worry about new arising threats. Obviously, with a global threat like a pandemic, it can be hard to deal with. But even tiny new threats can touch us personally, like the idea of “blue light” that has been so talked about lately. But what even is it and what can you do to protect yourself from it? We’ve come to realize that it is far from a marketing gimmick and can actually impact your health, so we have some tips and tricks to help.
Blue Light Explained
To understand it, we must understand light itself. Visible light is made up of various different rays that combine to create the light that we see with our eyes. To put it simply, one of those rays, the blue light rays, offer the shortest wavelengths and the highest energy levels. Blue light naturally occurs, but can also be found in man-made tech items like fluorescent and LED light, the screens of our computers, our televisions, our mobile devices, and more.
Unlike other light rays, the human eye is not great at blocking the blue light rays from reaching our corneas. So what does that mean? Sometimes, blue rays can be helpful. It has been found to improve memory, cognitive function, alertness and has helped regulate the body’s wakefulness and sleep. But, it also contributes to negative symptoms that can lead to macular degeneration or eye strain.
Until incandescent light was created, humans mostly only were met with sunlight and other forms of natural visible light. Because of this, the artificial blue rays we are so often looking at has an impact on the balance of light humans see. This can not only affect eye health but can also affect someone’s melatonin and sleep schedule.
According to a Harvard study, blue rays affected the subject’s melatonin levels far worse than green light did (double!) This can lead to lack of sleep which can affect people in many ways such as risk of diabetes, cardiovascular issues and depression.
What Can We Do To Protect Our Eyes?
Here are some tips to help avoid blue light:
- Expose your eyes to other types of light beyond blue rays to help regulate your rhythms
- Introducing red lights into your nighttime lighting to help regulate your melatonin
- Avoid bright screens before bedtime (up to three hours before if possible)
- Invest in blue light glasses to wear while using your electronics
You can also take advantage of the settings within your electronics, like switching them to night mode. Some even offer a schedule in the display settings so night mode can turn on automatically at a certain time of day.
For more help with light related concerns, reach out to MyTek today.