What Is Blue Light and How Do I Filter It?
Light is a form of radiation, and because our bodies evolved to perceive sunlight, we mostly understand how light from the sun affects us. But there is another type of light that we don’t pay much attention to – blue light.
What is Blue Light?
Blue light is a term that refers to visible light that is in the blue spectrum. It is not a new term you’ve probably heard in this context but mainly in connection with color temperature and lightbulbs. But what exactly is blue light? How is it different from other colors of light?
Blue light is light that has a wavelength of roughly 400 to 500 nanometers. It is a part of the visible light spectrum, and just like other colors of light-red, yellow, green, and violet-it has different wavelengths. It is indeed a form of ultraviolet light. However, it is on the lower end of the spectrum, so you don’t have to worry about sunburns or skin cancer.
It is also a type of light that our bodies react to, not just our eyes; in fact, we respond to blue light in the same way we respond to green and yellow light. It’s actually quite interesting that our eyes are able to see this particular color of light. After all, human beings are not the only creatures that enjoy the sunlight! Birds, insects, and even small fish can tell when the sun is up.
The Blue Light Effect
Blue light has garnered attention recently due to its potential harmful effects on the body. While it’s commonly associated with eye issues such as macular degeneration, it’s also been linked to cancer. However, its impact extends beyond eye health.
Blue light exposure can affect vision, leading to digital eye strain characterized by symptoms like dry eyes, headaches, and difficulty focusing. If left unchecked, it can even cause blurry vision, prompting a visit to a Calgary optometrist (if that’s where you’re from) for evaluation and treatment. This can help you address any underlying vision problems and receive appropriate care to alleviate discomfort and improve visual clarity.
Moreover, prolonged exposure to blue light, particularly in the evening, can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, resulting in sleep disturbances and fatigue. For years, the medical community has cautioned against using electronic devices before bedtime due to their ability to interfere with natural biological rhythms.
While it may be tempting to use tablets, phones, or laptops in the evening, prioritizing a good night’s sleep is essential. Being mindful of blue light exposure and its potential consequences can help individuals make informed choices regarding screen usage, ultimately contributing to better overall health and well-being.
Moreover, the blue light emitted by the LED bulbs can also cause harm to your eyes and body if you spend a lot of hours in artificial lighting. It can disrupt your sleep and cause issues like insomnia. However, new innovations like sleep bulbs and lamps (learn more by exploring companies similar to BLUblox) can be a benefit in such situations. These lights can block the blue light emissions and aid you in sleep.
The Filters
Blue light is emitted by the sun and from other sources, but the biggest source is most likely the smartphone or tablet in your hand. Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum which means it can be seen by the human eye. It is associated with digital eye strain, migraines, and sleep problems. While the effects of blue light are controversial, many eye experts believe it is causing long-term damage to the eyes, resulting in an epidemic of nearsightedness. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to filter out blue light as you go to bed.
For years, people have claimed that exposure to blue light from computers, tablets, and smartphone screens can cause sleeplessness and eye strain, and other more serious health issues. Recently their claims have proven true, and as a result, many companies have developed blue light filters designed to be used on the screens of these devices. These blue light filters have been shown to have a positive effect on sleep, and there are even blue light glasses that can be worn in front of devices in order to filter out blue light.
There’s even a blue light filter app to help you out. The name of it is “Nofilter,” and the app is based on research from Harvard Medical School. The study basically shows that blue light filters can help to improve your sleep and can also help to lower the risk of macular degeneration.
Conclusion
It’s true that exposure to blue light will negatively affect your sleep, but if you’re looking for the best blue light blocking glasses, you’ll need to consider other factors besides UV protection. Blue light glasses that are tinted yellow or amber will also block violet light, which is just as damaging to your eyes as blue light. In addition, there is no reason not to wear blue light filter glasses following LASIK surgery from SharpeVision or any other eye treatment center, particularly if you notice an improvement after wearing them.
Remember, if you’re going to wear glasses at night, make sure you’re choosing glasses that block all the harmful light from your electronic devices.