We spend an average of 6 hrs a day in front of screens
Screens are part of our daily life, a constant presence in our lives - however, our eyes are not made to have such long exposure to screens.
Despite ourselves, we are exposed to blue light sources for very long periods of time, which strains our eyes.
We spend an average of 6 hrs a day in front of one or more screens.
The use of flat-screen technology (TVs, smartphones, computers and tablets) and certain light sources (LEDs) result in the eye being overexposed to harmful blue light.
Did you know that two consecutive hours in front of a screen can lead to eyestrain?
What is blue light and where does it come from ?
Blue light is part of the light spectrum: it is present in natural light as well as in artificial lighting. Part of this blue light is vital to regulate a number of non-visual functions such as the sleep cycle, cognitive functions or psychomotor balance.
Therefore, blue light or High Energy Visible light (HEV) is everywhere, both out of doors and indoors. Within the light spectrum, the blue light part ranges from 380 to 500 nm and is also the most energetic light source reaching our retinas. Part of this light is harmful and has been recognised as a factor of the development of ARMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration).
But blue light is not totally harmful !
In fact, we can classify blue light into 2 categories - positive and negative blue light:
"Positive blue light", blue-turquoise (between 450 and 500 nm) is vital for our organism as it regulates the sleep cycle and stimules the memory, etc...
On the other hand, "negative blue light", blue-violet light (between 380 ans 450 nm) is harmful and at the source of the devopment of certain disorders and diseases.
What are the dangers of blue light ?
After only two hours in front of a screen, the dazzling due to the shimmering caused by artificial blue light has harmful effects such as blurred vision, eyestrain, difficulty in focusing or even headaches.
With overexposure to blue light, the production of melatonin (the hormone regulating sleep) decreases, which disrupts the sleep cycle. Excessive exposure to blue light increases the risk of a number of diseases and, in particular, may lead to mood disorder, cardiac disease or depression. It has also been proved in several studies that prolonged exposure to artificial light can cause harmful damage to the eyes. By damaging the retina, it fosters development of ARMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) and, in extreme cases, may also lead to blindness.
PERCEPTIBLE OR IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
OF BLUE LIGHT ON YOUR EYES :
- Fatigue/dry eyes
- Glare
- Headaches
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
EFFECTS OF LEDS AND BLUE
LIGHT IN THE LONG TERM :
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Irritability, mood swings
- Development of cataracts
- ARMD(Age-Related Macular Degeneration)
