If you work at a computer, you probably get anywhere from 4 to 8+ hours of screen time everyday. This is a lot of time in front of screens, and this means a lot of exposure to blue light. Blue light is the high-energy light that comes from screens, but it also occurs naturally in sunlight. Should I wear blue light glasses in front of a computer? This is the question that everyone wants to know the answer to, and we wanted to shed some light (no pun intended) on the subject. These days most computers come equipped with digital light filters that produce a more reddish colour to the screen, which can help alleviate eye strain while using the computer. However, these filters change the colour of our computer monitors. Blue light glasses can cut down on the eye strain that computer users experience, but how exactly do they work?
Blue Light Glasses Explained
We do know that blue light glasses can be a good investment if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen. They cut down on the eye strain because they redirect the rays of blue light that come off your monitor, while allowing the rest of the light to pass through. This means they are virtually clear to look through but still block the blue light. In turn, this reduces eyestrain throughout the day, and it also helps regulate our natural melatonin production, which is the hormone associated with sleep. These blue light glasses have specially designed lenses, which effectively filter or block blue light, and they also react to sunlight and can physically tint the lens. The lenses may also help prevent potential harm to your eye from prolonged contact with blue light and thereby reduce possible damage to your iris from too much screen time.
Melatonin Makes You Sleepy
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in our bodies and its primary purpose is to regulate our sleep/wake cycle. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in small quantities in the evening after the sun goes down and while we sleep. Most of us produce melatonin naturally in our bodies at night, but if we use screens on a regular basis and particularly in the evening, our melatonin production can be delayed or limited. Blue light glasses can help regulate your natural melatonin production by stopping the blue light from disrupting your melatonin system.
Important Tips For Screen Users
There are also some important tips to practise if you spend a lot of time in front of screens. For one, try to avoid long periods of prolonged staring at a computer screen and take regular breaks away from your screen. you can also follow the 20-20 rule: every 20 minutes look away from your screen for 20 seconds. Even just doing this simple exercise can do wonders for your eyes. The last tip is to remember to blink a bit more when you are at the computer. Studies show that people blink less while looking at computer screens, probably since our eyes don’t change where they are pointing very much, so remember to actively blink your eyes every now and then.