Health

Here's Why You Should Be Worried About Blue Light Exposure (and What to Do About It)

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How does blue light affect us? "Blue light exposure is cumulative and is one of the major risk factors contributing to frequency and severity of macular degeneration, the nation's leading cause of severe vision loss and legal blindness in adults," explains ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Mendelsohn. "More commonly than macular degeneration, blue light is the instigator of digital eye strain, which is characterized by eye fatigue, blurred vision, red and/or dry eyes, eye discomfort and decreased productivity. Sometimes headaches can also be present."

Schlessinger also notes that studies have found blue light to affect circadian rhythm, which can affect how well you're sleeping. "Sleep deprivation can cause premature aging, which is never a good thing, but it can also affect eyes because it's one of the types of light that human eyes are sensitive to. Blue light has some of the highest energy wavelengths and the shortest lengths, which causes flickering. This can cause eye strain, headaches and fatigue since our eyes don't come with a built-in blue light filter."

Image via @baxterblue_

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