Blue light is everywhere, and it’s having a big impact on our eyes. The amount of blue light we’re exposed to is increasing, and this exposure may be linked to a range of health issues.
Read on as a Saginaw, TX optometrist talks about blue light, its effects on our eyes, and how to tell if your eyes have been affected in harmful ways.
What Is Blue Light?
Blue light is a type of high-energy, visible light that has a shorter wavelength and higher frequency than other colors in the spectrum. The blue part of the spectrum contains more energy than other colors of visible light, so when you stare at something that produces blue light for too long, it can strain your eyes over time.
Blue light reaches earth from sources like our sun, but it also comes from artificial sources like televisions, laptops, and cell phones. It can be harmful if you’re exposed to too much of it because of its damaging effects on your retinas.
Health Effects
Overexposure to blue light has been linked to a number of health issues:
- It can affect your brain waves, making you feel more alert and awake than you really are. This may seem like a good thing, but this effect can have negative consequences on the quality of sleep you get.
- It can increase your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- It can affect your mood.
Signs Your Eyes Are Affected By Blue Light
- You need to squint or close your eyes when exposed to the sun, especially if it’s at high noon.
- You feel tired and lethargic even after a full night’s sleep.
- Your mood changes dramatically throughout the day, from feeling calm and relaxed at one point to being cranky and irritable at another.
- You feel like you can’t focus on a task and it takes longer than usual to complete it.
- Your eyes are red, irritated, sore or feel dry much of the time.
- You have headaches that come and go.
- You have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
- You have difficulty concentrating and your mind wanders more than usual.
- You feel like you’re not as productive as you usually are, even though you’re working the same amount of hours or longer.
- You feel depressed or anxious more often than usual and it doesn’t seem to go away on its own.
If you have more questions or wish to schedule an eye wellness exam, please don’t hesitate to call us, your local Saginaw, TX optometry office, anytime!
