CAN I WEAR BLUE LIGHT GLASSES ALL DAY.
The world is full of light, some are visible to our eyes and some invisible. Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum right next to ultraviolet (UV) light. Other lights that are part of this visible spectrum are the rainbow colors – Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red. The sun is a combination of all these colours but in different wavelengths and energy levels. Blue, in the color spectrum, has the shortest wavelength but higher energy than other colors. Many people are familiar with UV light because of sun damage, it’s why we wear sunscreen and sunglasses. The sun is our primary source of blue light and the reason the sky appears blue is because blue light is scattered by the atmosphere. Although blue light is less powerful than UV radiation, it can still be dangerous in high amounts.
Many artificial sources of blue light exist, like light bulbs, LED TVs, cellphones, tablets, computers, and e-readers. These sources are much weaker than the sun but we encounter many of them throughout our day and engage them up close. We spend hours on our phones, computers, and tablets, usually viewing them too closely. Over time, our exposure to blue light can lead to cumulative damage. Structures at the front of the eye absorb some UV light, preventing it from completely reaching the retina. Blue light, however, easily passes through and is absorbed by light-detecting cells in the retina. This is advantageous as it helps with daytime alertness, boosts attention, reaction time, and mood but years of cumulative exposure to blue light may increase the risk of eye damage, including macular degeneration.
Our complex lifestyle compels us to use these electronic devices throughout the day and at night, too. We cannot avoid their uses in our daily lives. We always carry our cellphones and frequently check our messages or browse. At our workplaces, we have PCs or laptops shooting the Blue Light at us. At home, we watch movies on our large LED TV screen. So, there is no escape from this Blue Light unless we decide to live in total isolation, shut off from the outside world. The way to protect your eyes is to use glasses with a Blue Light filter, the blue light filter feature on your electronic devices, and reduce screen time. Blue Light filter, also known as blue blockers, effectively eliminates or minimizes the rays of Blue Light hitting your retina. They filter blue light, making colors appear more yellowish but have a minimal impact on color vision.
Also adding a blue light filter in the hours before bed can support quality sleep. Blue light prevents the release of melatonin, the hormone responsible for making us feel drowsy. A dose of daytime blue light can help you feel alert but evening or nighttime exposure can trick your body into thinking it’s daytime. Putting on your blue light glasses when viewing your phone before bed can help keep melatonin production regular. A consistent sleep cycle can improve sleep, and eliminating late-night blue light can help.
Don’t worry, you can and should wear Blue Light glasses all day long, at home looking through your phone, at work on your PC, while binging a favorite TV show, and even outdoors. It does not have any negative effects. It is safe to use it for as long as you want. In fact, you need to always safeguard your eyes from sunlight and artificial sources of Blue Light.