Looking at a screen all day might have you wondering how all that bright light is affecting your eyes. The average worker spends seven hours a day on the computer either in the office or working from home. And phones – we stare our phones and tablets every day! Do you know how many hours you spend your phone, like scrolling in social media? Maybe you have eye irritation from screen?
Hack: go to phone settings and choose screen time, there you can see how many hours you have used your phone today, daily average, total screen time etc. You have socked if you see these numbers!
All these digital devices emit blue light which causes us Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Computer Vision Syndrome, also referred to as Digital Eye Strain, describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and cell phone use. Many individuals experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing digital screens for extended periods. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of digital screen use.
The most common symptoms associated with Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or Digital Eye Strain are:
✅eyestrain
✅headaches
✅blurred vision
✅dry eyes
These symptoms may be caused by:
✅blue light
✅poor lighting
✅poor seating posture
WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT?
Blue light is shortwave lengths of light which is generally emitted from electronic devices, like your smartphone, tablet, TV and computer. Blue light wavelength is between 400 and 450 nanometers (nm) on the visible light spectrum. Blue light of the visible light spectrum is the shortest wavelength, but at the same time the blue light have the highest energy. The higher energy level means it has more chance of causing damage and also the eye is not very good at blocking blue light.
Light waves
THE EFFECT OF BLUE LIGHT ON YOUR EYES
Viewing a computer or digital screen often makes the eyes work harder. The human eyes can block UV rays but not blue light. Virtually all visible blue light passes through the cornea and lens and reaches the retina. This causes changes that resemble those of macular degeneration (a disease that can result in blurred or no vision), which can lead to permanent vision loss. Researchers at the University of Toronto compared the melatonin levels of people exposed to bright indoor light who were wearing blue-light–blocking glasses to people exposed to regular dim light without wearing glasses. The fact that the levels of the hormone were about the same in the two groups strengthens the hypothesis that blue light is a potent suppressor of melatonin. It also suggests that shift workers and night owls could perhaps protect themselves if they wore eyewear that blocks blue light.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM CVS
It’s good for you to be familiar with what good eye health feels like, so if your eyes don’t feel quite right like they are too dry, watering or blurred, you know what to look out for.
* Avoid looking at bright screens beginning two to three hours before bed.
* If you work a night shift or use a lot of electronic devices, consider wearing blue light blocking glasses.
* Installing an app that filters the blue/green wavelength.
* Expose yourself to lots of bright light during the day, which will boost your ability to sleep at night.
* Practice the 20-20 rule: the rule is for every 20 minutes that you spend on screen, you have to look at a distance for 20 seconds. Doing this can help relax your eyes and prevent headaches.
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/protecting-your-vision/computer-vision-syndrome
https://thescreenprotector.co.uk/blogs/news/7-facts-on-blue-light-the-screen-protector-anti-blue-light-screen-protector
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/60-million-people-are-suffering-from-computer-vision-syndrome-are-you-on-the-list/photostory/74242807.cms?picid=74242864
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