{"id":634,"date":"2019-08-09T10:53:01","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T08:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luniversum.com\/uncategorized\/four-easy-ways-to-protect-your-eyes-against-blue-light\/"},"modified":"2020-02-12T14:59:35","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T13:59:35","slug":"four-easy-ways-to-protect-your-eyes-against-blue-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luniversum.com\/en\/four-easy-ways-to-protect-your-eyes-against-blue-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Four easy ways to protect your eyes against blue light"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"lunor<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

You might have heard about blue light and are asking yourself how dangerous it really is. Here we explain what it is, how much of it is negligible and when it might become an issue. These four measures against blue light are easy to take and provide lasting protection for your eyes.<\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

If you\u2019re reading this article, you\u2019re probably sitting in front of a computer or looking at the screen on your smartphone. This means that bluelight is striking your retina at this very moment. This can lead to damage in the long run. Unless, of course, you have taken the necessary precautions. You can find a list of these below.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s start from the beginning. Bluelight is a prismatic color that you can see in a rainbow, for instance: at the top is red, which has a long wavelength, and at the bottom is high-energy blue light, which has a wavelength of between 380 and 500 nanometers. Another name for this light is high-energy visible light, or HEV. So blue light is not harmful in itself. It\u2019s a natural component of sunlight that we \u201cconsume\u201d daily, just like UV light. A good way to look at how blue light can be problematic is like this: A certain amount of UV radiation<\/a> is perfectly fine, and is even essential for vitamin D production. But too much can be harmful\u2014just think of your last sunburn.<\/p>\n

\u201cBluelight can lead to long-term sleeping disorders and difficulties concentrating”<\/h2>\n

This is a lot like blue light. It serves an important purpose for our inner clocks in that, when we perceive light, our bodies know that it is daytime. Because it is known to put us in a good mood and wake us up, blue light was long used as mood-lifting therapy for people with depression, for example. Experts believe that our bodies produce less melatonin, the \u201csleep hormone\u201d, when blue light hits our retina. This is especially useful when the dawn breaks and we want to be ready to take on the day.<\/p>\n

The catch is that blue light doesn\u2019t reach us just through natural sunlight, but also through artificial light. The unnatural spectral composition of LEDs, our computer monitors and the screens of our smartphones and tablets in particular leaves us exposed to a higher dose of bluelight that can last late into the night. This can lead to long-term sleeping disorders and difficulties concentrating.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not entirely clear whether and to what extent bluelight is actually harmful. A study on animals has shown that blue light from LED lamps causes damage to the retina starting at an illuminance of just 500 lux. There are no available long-term studies on humans. But even though these results are to be interpreted with caution, experts agree that blue light can aid age-related macular degeneration. And because lenses are largely ineffective in filtering out blue light, it can damage our macula\u2014where our vision is the most in focus\u2014when it hits the retina. In severe cases, macular degeneration can lead to blindness.<\/p>\n

Four ways to protect your eyes from Bluelight<\/h2>\n

Are you one of those people who get headaches, have troubles concentrating, whose eyes dry out or who are always tired after a working in front of a computer screen all day? These may be the effects of blue light. Here we have compiled four easy tips for reducing exposure to bluelight.<\/p>\n

1. ACTIVATE THE BLUELIGHT FILTER<\/h3>\n

Take advantage of your macOS or Windows system\u2019s capability to reduce blue light: activate night mode, Night Shift mode or read mode. These settings are also available on many smartphones. Otherwise there are bluelight filter apps that you can download.<\/p>\n

2. OPTIMIZE YOUR CELL-PHONE AND TV USE IN THE EVENING<\/h3>\n

Avoid working intensively in front of a computer monitor or screen before going to bed. In particular when the room is dark, looking at these screens will cause your pupils to dilate, allowing bluelight to penetrate your eye unimpeded. But this doesn\u2019t mean you have to do away with enjoying your evening TV shows: television sets are usually far enough away from the viewers\u2019 eyes for this to be a problem, and the constantly changing images emit less white (and thus blue) light. You can also brighten up the room with an additional light source.<\/p>\n

3. EYE YOGA<\/h3>\n

Take occasional breaks to relax your eyes, especially during long periods in front of a computer.<\/p>\n