There’s been a lot of talk lately about ‘blue light’. You’ve probably heard that it is bad for those who do not have AMD and also for those who do. The question is what is it and what evidence is there that it is bad for us?
Click here for a very extensive article that:
- explains the visible light spectrum and tells how it affects our eyes.
- provides references to blue light research.
- points out that our cornea & lens (refer to the illustration) filter some of the blue light and that the yellowing of the lens in the development of cataracts helps to filter out blue light. For that reason, when the natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) in cataract surgery, we lose that protection. Some doctors insert an IOL that is tinted to block blue light. Some say that if this is done, it cuts down on our ability to adapt to dark conditions which causes some to have poor night vision.
- explains the terms used to refer to visible light.
- discusses the difference types of lamps with pros and cons and gives specific descriptions of what’s available.
Click here for another great article about how the violet and blue light of the UV spectrum can worsen AMD. The article says that the sources of violet/blue light are “sun (main source), computer screen, phone & other mobile device screens, full-spectrum lighting (ie, used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), fluorescent lighting, LED lights, high intensity mercury vapor lamps (for night sports and high-crime areas), and xenon arc lamps.”
Click here for a more technical article that addresses the effects of blue light on sleep and eyestrain. It also answers the questions:
- How does blue light affect eye strain and sleep?
- Should I block all blue light?
- Are my eyes just sensitive to blue light?
- What are software solutions and physical blue light filters?
What can we do to block blue light? Here are some suggestions:
Do you spend a lot of time on the computer and other electronic devices?
Click here for an article that describes some ways we can be protected from the blue light emitted from them. It also describes the new feature called Night Shift for the iPhone and iPad that filters some of it. For Windows devices, there is an app Windows f.lux. Click here to find out how to download and install it.
You can also get screen protectors and ‘computer glasses’. I talk about them below.
Do you spend a lot of time outside?
You need to wear sunglasses that filter out the blue light from the sun. Click here to go to a post about how to choose sunglasses.
Do you need eyeglasses or contacts?
Even if you have IOLs (the lenses implanted when cataracts are removed) that block blue light, my eye doctor told me that the amount of blue light filtered isn’t that significant so additional blocking is advised.
You can get the lenses coated to filter out blue light. Kodak Bluelight Reflect is one. Crizal Prevencia is another. Click here for other products. Talk to your eye doctor or optician about what they offer.
As far as coating for contacts, that’s available also. This article talks about tinting for cosmetic reasons but there is also a section that talks about adding a UV coating to them. At the time this article was published, they said none of them should replace sunglasses with good UV filtering. To be honest, I don’t yet know if you can have blue light coating on contact lenses.
Do I need special ‘computer glasses’?
If you do not wear eyeglasses or wear them but don’t have a good protective coating on them, you might consider a pair of glasses with protective coatings but no prescription to reduce glare and blue light transmission. Even if you have IOLs (the lenses implanted when cataracts are removed) that block blue light, my eye doctor told me that the amount of blue light filtered isn’t that significant so additional blocking is advised.
Click here for a good article about what computer glasses are and how they work.
Can I filter blue light from my electronic devices without specially coated eyeglasses, contacts or ‘computer glasses’?
Yes, you can buy screen protectors for your devices. Click here for a very extensive discussion of them.
Do you need cataract surgery?
Talk to your doctor about the tinted IOLs that can be inserted (refer to first article above or click here).
What kind of indoor lighting do you have?
Again, the first article above gives a great overview of the terms used to refer to visible light & discusses the different types of lamps with examples.
- Neither Sue nor I get any commissions from any of the products included here.