From working on an office computer to surfing the internet on a smartphone at night, staring at digital displays exposes your eyes to blue light. Even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, your vision can experience the negative effects of overexposure. To protect eye health, here’s a brief overview of what you need to know about blue light.

What Is Blue Light?

Digital screens are a source of blue light, and it’ll also keep you up at night if you’re scrolling through your phone in bed. This type of illumination affects pineal gland function. Located in the brain, this gland releases melatonin, the sleepy hormone, a few hours before you go to bed. The hormone reduces alertness to make it easier to drift off and regulates the sleep-wake cycles. When eyes are exposed to blue light, the pineal gland won’t release melatonin.

How Does It Affect My Eyes?

Blue light causes you to blink less, drying and tiring your eyes—this is called digital eye strain. The strain may cause you to feel discomfort in your contact lenses or take off your glasses to rub your eyes.

Blue light also passes through the cornea and lens, penetrating the retina. The cells in the retina are sensitive to light and can become damaged with overexposure to blue light, mimicking the effects of macular degeneration.

How Can I Combat the Effects of Blue Light?

If you work at a computer for long periods, look away from the monitor every 20 minutes, focusing on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Taking these breaks will give eyes a rest to minimize strain. If eyes still feel fatigued despite taking these breaks, contact your doctor. They may recommend wearing glasses with yellow-tinted lenses to block the blue wavelengths.

To prevent blue light from inhibiting your sleep, stop looking at digital screens, like TVs, smartphones, and reading tablets, a few hours before going to bed. This will prompt the pineal gland to begin releasing melatonin.

If you think your eyesight is being affected by blue light, contact the professionals at Hawaii Vision Clinic in Aiea. These professionals welcome patients of all ages, and they’ll take the time to determine the cause of your eyesight issues. If your prescription has changed as a result of blue light exposure, they’ll outfit you with stylish glasses or updated contact lenses. Learn more about their services online, or call (808) 487-7938 to schedule an appointment.