Blue light, what you don't know

If you're like me, you're catching up on Facebook, Pinterest or email before you even get out of bed. Then, you head straight to your computer at work and spend the majority of the day on it or using one of the many other digital devices that are available in today's increasingly technological society.

But what if I told you that these electronics are emitting a dangerous blue light, which is negatively impacting not only your vision but also your overall health? It's true, and it's a major concern for eye doctors across the country and a passionate topic for Dr. Ross.

For those of you that don’t know me - I love technology. I will turn around and go back home to get my smartphone if I’ve forgotten it. But the extended tech-time can impact your eyes in two major ways. First and foremost – what other eye doctors are not telling you about – blue light damage. The second but most common side effect is digital eye strain.

A serious impact that too much technology consumption can have on our eyes is damage from blue light exposure. Blue light is just what it sounds like -- it's a type of light that gives off a blue color. Blue light is harmful because it's the highest energy wavelength of visible light. This energy is also able to penetrate all the way to the back of the eye, through the eyes' natural filters, and that's the problem. And we get each day through digital device use. With this exposure increasing over time, we are actually causing permanent damage to our eyes. And the effects of blue light are cumulative and can lead to eye diseases.

Children are especially at risk when it comes to the negative effects of blue light exposure. These days, schools are (in some cases exclusively) teaching on digital devices. The difference for children is that their eyes are still developing, and they don't yet have the protective pigments in their eyes to help filter out some of this harmful blue light. That's why, just like with UV radiation, most blue light exposure occurs before kids are 18 years old.

While it may be a great concern for children, adults are susceptible, as well. This is especially true as adults are using digital devices more and more in both their personal and professional lives. So what can you do about it?

First, you can take steps to protect your eyes from the harmful effects of blue light. You should talk to Dr. Ross and me about lenses and eyeglass treatments that filter out blue light (and no, these aren't the old bright orange blue-blocker eyewear from the '90s). A lot of us already use eyeglasses and Anti-Reflective Treatments – you would be shocked at how an educated Optician can guide you to choices for your eyeglasses that will both minimize the direct blue light exposure AND won’t break the bank. Most of my patients who have these lenses noticed an immediate increase in eye comfort because of the improved contrast, which helps to relax the eyes. And if you have children, I would absolutely recommend these lenses.

If you've ever experienced slightly blurry vision after staring at the computer all day, that was a sign of digital eye strain. Maybe your eyes feel dry, tired after scrolling through your Facebook feed, or maybe your focusing is all goofy after a few hours on the computer. When we look at a screen, our blink rate drops significantly, and our eyes let us know that they don’t like that. These symptoms are often so common that we don't even recognize them as real issues. While digital eye strain is temporary, if left unaddressed, it can turn into a chronic problem. The easiest way to address digital eye strain is to blink more. Follow the "20-20-20 Rule" -- every 20 minutes, stare at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. These exercises engage your distance vision and help the eye to "reset."

We only get one set of eyes…