UNDERSTANDING BLUE LIGHT Tips and Guidelines BY LORI PREVE LICENSED INSURANCE PRODUCER, NHADA In today’s world, adults and children are exposed to an unprecedented level of blue light. Think about it: We’re surrounded by smartphones, tablets, TVs and even fluorescent lights. Exposure to this blue light has been linked to digital eye strain. DID YOU KNOW? • Scientific research has linked blue light to the onset of digital eye strain in as little as two hours of screen time.¹ • 49% of kids are now spending more than six hours online every day.² • Two-thirds of people in the U.S. experience digital eye strain symptoms.¹ TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE • Get an eye exam. Talk to your doctor about your lifestyle and ask about the best options for reducing digital eye strain. Even if you don’t wear corrective lenses, some blue light coatings are available for nonprescription eyewear. • Limit screen time before bed. Turn devices off a few hours before going to bed. Also, consider lowering the brightness of your screen, enabling the blue light filter or downloading a blue-light-reducing app for your device. • Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Give your eyes a break every 20 minutes, and spend 20 seconds looking at something at least 20 feet away. • Try supplements. One small study found that taking supplements with lutein and zeaxanthin for six months eased eyestrain, poor sleep quality and headaches from excessive screen time.3 Ask your doctor if these supplements are safe for you to take. 1. 2017 Digital Eye Strain Report, The Vision Council 2. April 2020, ParentsTogether Foundation Survey — Kids’ Screen Time During COVID-19 Crisis 3. “Macular Carotenoid Supplementation Improves Visual Performance, Sleep Quality, and Adverse Physical Symptoms in Those with High Screen Time Exposure.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28661438/ 19
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