Blue light is everywhere. It’s emitted by the sun, by artificial lighting and most notably, by the screens on our phones, tablets and computers. The blue light spectrum has both beneficial and harmful effects on our eyesight. It is important to understand how this type of light affects us. Let's explore the physics of the visible light spectrum, how blue light disrupts our sleep cycles, and what dangers it poses for our eye health.
The Physics of the Visible Light Spectrum
We can’t see all forms of light—only those within a certain range of wavelengths make up what we call the visible light spectrum. This includes violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Each color of visible light has a different wavelength—violet having the shortest wavelength and red having the longest.
Our Sleep Cycles Must Battle Artificial Light
Blue light has a particularly short wavelength among this spectrum of colors which means that it scatters more easily than other colors do. As such, when exposed to blue light after dark our bodies become confused into thinking that it is still daytime outside. This is why staring at bright screens late at night can mess with your body’s natural circadian rhythm and make it difficult to get a good night’s rest.
Blue Light and Eye Health
We know that blue light can disrupt our sleep cycles but does it also cause damage to our eyes? Studies have shown that exposure to high intensity blue-violet lights can damage cells in the retina over time due to its short wavelength—this is known as macular degeneration or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This type of vision loss usually occurs in older adults but studies suggest that exposing children regularly to bright screens may lead them to develop AMD earlier in life than they otherwise would have done so naturally due to aging. Therefore, it’s recommended that children be limited in their screen time—especially before bedtime—to reduce their risk for vision problems later in life.
At Lentz Eye Care we understand how important your vision is for you and your family and take pride in providing quality care for everyone from toddlers to seniors. If you are concerned about how blue light might be affecting your eyesight, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! We have a wide variety of frames to choose from and can add blue light protection to the lens, even if you don't need any prescription in your lens!
We look forward to helping you achieve optimal eye health for years to come.