How Light from Digital Devices Affect Our Eyes and What to Do About It
- Michael Nwadinso Okoro
- Feb 18, 2023
- 3 min read
Do you love reading? How do you read the things that you love? What are the devices that you use for reading? If your answer to the last question was either a laptop, an Android device, or an iOS then it'd interest you to know that this article has a little information that you would want to get.
Truth is, not everyone reads with their digital devices, and reading is not the only thing that people use their digital devices for. If this is so, then there is a wide range of activities that we use our digital devices for which require the use of our eyes because we need to see the activity that is going on. You would agree that there are some people who over time, cannot or are not able to read or work with their digital devices because their eyes have been adversely affected by the light from these screens.
In this article, you would learn the simple definition of ophthalmology, how the lights from digital devices affect our eyes, and what to do about it.
Written By: Michael Okoro
February 18th, 2023
Ophthalmology, simply, is the branch of science that deals with the study of medical conditions relating to the eye. The process and practice help to provide patients with total eye care. The definition, therefore, implies that the right person for any form of eye care would be a certified ophthalmologist.
Blue Light
If you meet with an ophthalmologist on the grounds of eye care and you ask about the light from our devices and how it affects the human eye, he or she would give you a list of answers that will explain the implications of the light from our devices to our eyes.
The light from most of our devices, blue light, is a part of the visible light spectrum which has a vibrating nanometer range of 380 - 500. The wavelength is the shortest amongst other light in the spectrum, and it therefore it has the highest energy.
What is the source of this blue light? The sun.
Yes, the sun is the biggest source of blue light that we have, and it has a few benefits ranging from boosting alertness to helping a brain and memory function. It also helps our mood and regulates our body's wake and sleep cycle (circadian rhythm). However, irrespective of the effects (benefits) of blue lights, there are other downsides which in turn put our eye in a certain danger that'd require the medical attention of an ophthalmologist. Exposure to blue light from our devices is small compared to the one from sunlight but some effects happen due to long-term exposure to blue light from digital devices. Long-term exposure is dependent on the amount of time that one spends looking at the lights from the screen of their devices. Truth is, there is no defence mechanism in our eyes and body against blue light. Our eyes are not good at blocking the lights and nearly all visible blue light passes through the front of the eye (cornea and lens) and reaches the retina which is the cell that converts the light for the brain to process into images.
Effects of Blue Light Exposure
Constant exposure to blue light can result in eye strain, blurred vision, dry irritated eyes, headaches, and possibly cause damage to the retinal cell on a higher level. According to a vision study by the national eye institute in America, children are more prone to absorb more blue light than adults.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the effect of blue light starts when you stare for a long time so it is necessary to have a rule that will guide how you frequently use and interact with your devices. You can also use anti-reflective lenses or reset the device so that the amount of exposure per screen time would reduce too.
Conclusion
In all, exposure to blue light does not affect one's health but long-term exposure surely goes on to cause these issues that can affect one's productivity at work and therefore reduce the percentage of profit and outcome. Take care of your eyes, it is golden.
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