When you see sunlight, you don’t see everything. Some of the waves are invisible, but they can affect you anyway — that’s how you get a suntan. This fact is especially important to eye doctors. At Allens Creek Family Optometry, offering eye exams and vision therapy in Rochester, NY, they emphasize the importance of understanding blue light, which can impact your vision negatively if you’re not careful.

Blue light is made up of the shortest length waves in the light spectrum. It’s not visible to the human eye, but it’s present anywhere that light is shining. It’s abundant in the light emitted from phones and tablets.

Although a certain amount of exposure to blue light is healthy, too much exposure can increase your risk of developing macular degeneration. It also contributes to eye strain when you’re reading on a digital device. This is one reason why eye doctors recommend turning off such devices at least an hour before bed. If you get into the habit of reading content via a phone or tablet at night, your vision may suffer in the future.

Fortunately, you can purchase a blue light filter for your device. This product is designed to minimize the amount of blue light emitted by your tablet or phone.

For full protection, ask your optometrist to recommend a pair of computer glasses. These glasses further reduce the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes. Some regular eyeglass lens can also be purchased with anti-reflective coatings, which serve the same purpose as computer glasses. If you spend a lot of time in front of a digital screen, ask your eye doctor if this option is available. An optometrist will let you know what steps you can take to limit your exposure to blue light.

For more information, schedule an appointment at Allens Creek Family Optometry, serving the Rochester, NY, area. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact them online, or call (585) 461-6225.