The Effect of Blue Light on Vision
Written By: Alyssa Wong
If you’re reading this, your eyes are being exposed to blue light — a color in the visible light spectrum with shorter wavelengths and more energy. But blue light was most likely affecting your vision even before you picked up your phone or switched on your computer. And this is because blue light is everywhere. Sources of blue light include: fluorescent lights, CFL bulbs, LED lights, flat screen TVs, computer monitors, smartphones, tablet screens, and the sun.
Although blue light exposure from screens is small compared to the amount from the sun, it still poses risks due to their close proximity and the length of time we spend looking at them. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of students worldwide have resorted to online learning, greatly increasing their exposure to blue light. According to a National Eye Institute-funded study, children’s eyes absorb more blue light than adults, so it is vital to ask — what are the effects of blue light on vision?
First, the benefits. It can boost alertness, help memory, and improve cognitive function. Blue light exposure during daytime hours maintains a regular circadian rhythm — the body’s natural wake and sleep cycle. But too much exposure at night can disrupt this cycle, causing problems sleeping and fatigue during the daytime This leads us on to the negative effects.
Aside from disrupting sleep, blue light decreases contrast, causing digital eye strain. Fatigue, dry eyes, bad lighting, or how you sit in front of the computer all contribute to eye strain, which produces symptoms that include sore or irritated eyes and difficulty focusing. Continued exposure to blue light over time can lead to damaged retinal cells and vision problems like age-related macular degeneration, which affects central vision and can cause difficulty performing daily tasks.
Now before you start worrying, there are many ways to decrease exposure to blue light. Regulating screen time and taking frequent breaks is one option that allows your eyes to rest . Using screen filters can also decrease the amount of blue light given off by devices. Additionally, computer glasses have yellow-tinted lenses that block blue light, easing digital eye strain by increasing contrast. Some lenses may also have anti-reflective coating, which reduces glare, increases contrast, and blocks blue light from the sun and digital devices. Protecting your eyesight is important. Hopefully, the information provided has changed the way you see blue light, both literally and figuratively.
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