Blue Light and Your Eyes - How Electronic Devices Impact Eye Strain

Staring at screens all day can often leave our eyes feeling tired and strained. The blue light emitted from the devices we use is more likely than natural light to cause this undesirable side effect.

How Blue Light Overworks Eye Cells

As convenient as computers, phones, tablets and all our electronics may be, staring at these pixelated screens daily can negatively impact ocular wellness over time. Vision problems like shortsightedness, dry eyes, and headaches have all been connected to increased screen exposure. The high-energy visible (HEV) blue light wavelengths from our devices can especially lead to exhaustion of the retinal molecules that translate images for the brain.

Unlike natural sunlight which offers a balanced light spectrum, digital screens emit an isolated spike of blue light at 440 - 455 nm. This bandwidth overstimulates light-reactive cells in the retina, flooding them with more information than they are equipped to handle. Retinal molecules struggle to regenerate when constantly bombarded by close-range blue light from LCD and LED displays. The result is inflamed eyes strained to their limits, unable to relax between blinks.

Recommendations to Combat Eye Fatigue

Luckily there are practical precautions you can take to protect delicate eye tissues from blue light overexposure:

1. Install Blue Light Filtering Software
Enabling night shift mode on devices, using blue light screen dimmers, or downloading a dedicated blue light filter app are easy first steps. These tools limit exposure by removing the most intense blue wavelengths from your screen or warping white balance to appear more amber-tinted.

2. Invest in Blue Light Blocking Screen films
Laptop and desktop flims with special material filter 95% of blue light emission to relieve stressed retinas. Most also eliminate UV radiation and glare. Blue-violet wavelengths under 500 nm are typically the prime targets for blocking. Using computer films is a simple way to enjoy screens without compounding eye issues.

3. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule  
This clever hack helps eye muscles refocus and gives them regular rest periods to re-balance moisture levels naturally. Every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, take a 20 second break to view something 20 feet away. Even minor breaks make a huge difference against ocular discomfort when practiced consistently.

Visibly reduce bands of high-energy blue light hitting your eyes for a healthier relationship with technology. Protect your precious sight while still staying conveniently connected in our increasingly digitized world.

Give Your Eyes a Break with Blue Light Blockers  

The wavelength of blue light uniquely impacts delicate eye tissues and strains our vision over time. But with some awareness and helpful tools like blue light filtering glasses, software, and the 20-20-20 rule, you can still enjoy all that technology offers without exhausting your eyes. First try limiting intense blue light output from screens. When stepping away periodically is unrealistic, protect yourself with blue light blocking solutions designed specifically to give your eyes a much-needed break.