Although people have always been inclined to spend long hours on their desktop or mobile devices, the arrival of the pandemic in 2020 has skyrocketed the amount of time people spend online. During the lockdown, almost every aspect of our lives went online since that was the only means for us to connect to the people we love. A 2020 study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology found that during the COVID-19 lockdowns, 32.4% of the study population used a blue-light-emitting device 9 to 11 hours a day. Another 15.5% used the devices 12-14 hours a day (this was a sizable increase in screen time due to the changes in the way people work during the pandemic).

Due to this increase, it didn’t take long before concerns about blue light exposure began to set in. Blue light, also known as high-energy visible light, is the light from the blue side of the visible spectrum from the sun. It has a short wavelength, meaning that there is a lot of energy reaching your eyes compared to the much wider wavelengths of the other end of the spectrum.  Blue light is all around us. It can be found naturally in sunlight, and artificial sources like LCD screens, mobile devices, and fluorescent bulbs also produce blue light.

While exposure to blue light does have some positive benefits, excessive exposure to it can have negative impact on your eyes. It can boost your risk of eye disease by damaging your retinas and increasing the risk of macular degeneration. Fortunately, you can use blue light glasses to get some protection from these unnatural sources of blue light.

Blue light glasses are designed to provide relief from the uncomfortable side effects associated with staring at screens. They have special lenses that block or at least filter out certain light waves from devices and are also said to protect the retina from damage.

Inevitably, blue light glasses have risen in popularity and demand over the past year. Tamiesha Frempong, an ophthalmologist in New York City confirms that “lots of parents have come in asking about them (blue light glasses) especially in the pandemic, with kids doing remote learning.”

Benefits of blue light glasses

  1. Reduced risk of eye diseases: Blue light can penetrate into your retina and possibly lead to macular degeneration or increase your risk of developing cataracts and other related eye diseases. Unlike harmful UV rays, your cornea and eye lens can’t block blue light from reaching the retina. In this case, it would be highly beneficial to employ the use of blue light glasses for the much needed protection.
  2. Fewer headaches: Blue light, like other harmful lights and rays, can trigger migraines and exacerbate headache pain. Blocking out blue light with the special lenses will most likely reduce migraine attacks and reduce headaches you experience due to over exposure to blue light.
  3. Reduced eye strain: Staring at a screen for long periods of time can cause stress and make you experience eye and muscle strain. Blue light can also make it difficult to focus on the screen and make your eye strain concentrate. Blue light glasses prevent this by helping to increase contrast on your screen, making it easier to focus and subsequently reduce eye strain. 
  4. Improved sleep: Spending time on a screen before bed can make you feel alert. Normally, short wavelengths delay release of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone that naturally starts releasing into your system a couple of hours before bedtime. Using a mobile device, tablet or computer before bed can delay this release, making it harder to fall asleep right away. So, if due to busy work schedule or any other reason, you’re unable to get off your devices an hour or two before bed, as recommended by sleep experts, using blue light glasses may help you sleep better.

Who are we kidding? Almost everybody nowadays use their devices daily and consistently either for work, or connecting with loved ones. A lot of us work from home, online and some of us actually have loved ones who are far away that we need to connect with. Thanks to the technology of blue light glasses, you might not need to abandon that online project you’ve got going on or have to lose your job because you can’t work from home due to eye issues caused by blue light. As highlighted above, these blue light glasses are highly, highly beneficial! You can check out our website and cop one for yourself now. You deserve the luxury of healthy eyes!  

Shop for blue light glasses today!