Should you be worried about blue light?
Health. There is no evidence that blue light from digital devices damages the eye, but it does disturb our natural wake and sleep cycle and may cause digital eye strain. Take regular breaks from your devices to reduce eye strain, and decrease their use just before bedtime for more restful sleep.
| 02 Mar 2020 | 01:47
When you stare at a screen for hours at a time, whether it is a computer, TV, phone, or tablet, you are exposed to blue light from the device. There is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices causes damage to your eye.
The discomfort some people have after looking at screens is most likely digital eye strain. Most of us blink less when looking at screens, causing eye strain and dry eyes, says Rahul Khurana, MD, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Blue light does affect the body’s circadian rhythm, our natural wake and sleep cycle. During the day, blue light wakes us up and stimulates us. But too much blue light exposure late at night from your phone, tablet, or computer can make it harder to get to sleep.
That is why Dr. Khurana recommends that you try to limit your screen time in the two to three hours before you go to bed. Many devices have nighttime settings that minimize blue light exposure in the evenings.
Although people often associate blue light with computers and phones, the largest source of blue light is sunlight. Other sources include fluorescent light, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and LED light. Blue light exposure from screens is much less than the amount of exposure from the sun. It's also no more damaging than blue light from the sun, Dr. Khurana says.
Too much exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun increases the risks of eye diseases, including cataracts, growths on the eye, and cancer. We know less about blue light. Its effects are still being researched.
The bottom line, Dr. Khurana says, is that taking preventive measures against blue light could be more harmful than the blue light itself.
“It’s premature to take preventative action against blue light — there could be unintended consequences,” he says.
Some studies suggest that not enough exposure to sunlight in children could affect the growth and development of their vision. Not getting enough sun could also increase the risk of myopia (nearsightedness) in teens and young adults, a recent study suggests.
The best way to protect your eyes against eye strain from blue light in devices is to take regular breaks using the "20-20-20" rule: Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. You can also use artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry.
Skip the glasses that claim to protect your eyes against blue light, because of a lack of evidence they are effective, Dr. Khurana advises. The Academy does not recommend any special eyewear for computer use.
Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology: aao.org
Should I use night mode?
Night mode, or dark mode, is a setting offered on many digital devices to decrease screen brightness and reduce eye strain. Instead of featuring a predominantly white background with black text, the typical dark mode displays a black background with white or colored text or shifts lighter colors more toward pink and red instead of blue. The contrast and colors used in night mode reduce glare and help our eyes adjust more easily to surrounding light, leading to less eye strain and easier, more comfortable reading.
When a person is exposed to bright lights at night, their body can react as if it was exposed to sunlight: the brain stops producing melatonin, the sleep hormone, and we feel more awake. The warm colors of night mode don’t confuse the body about what time it is and make it easier to fall asleep than it would be if looking at a device using a regular display mode.
Although blue light does not cause any damage to the eye, decreasing blue light exposure and limiting screen time and brightness can help people sleep better and feel more comfortable.
Should I use computer glasses?
Eyeglasses that claim to filter out blue light from computers, smartphones, and tablets are becoming increasingly popular. Ads for these glasses claim overexposure to blue light can cause a number of problems. The problems supposedly linked to blue light range from dry eyes to digital eye strain, sleep cycle disruption and even macular degeneration, which causes people to lose some or all of their central vision. However there is no evidence that the kind or amount of light coming from computer screens is damaging to the eyes.
"People are very worried that we're looking at our screens more than we ever did," Academy spokesman Rahul Khurana, MD, told Business Insider. "Everyone is very concerned that it may be harmful to the eye, and it's a valid concern, but there's no evidence it may be causing any irreversible damage."
The American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend any special eye wear for computer use.