Physicians are becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of blue light on their patients’ health. Every day, people are exposed to the damaging short wavelength rays of light in the visible spectrum as they work on their computers, watch their televisions, and communicate on their many digital devices. Harmful blue light rays give off high energy that can cause health issues without proper attention and prevention measures.
One of the primary issues of overexposure to blue light is reduction in eye health. Blue light has been found to damage the retina. The University of Toledo dedicated a study to the effects of blue light, and researchers found that because the eye cannot block it, retinal absorption occurs, which can result in the destruction of retinal cells, AMD and eye strain at the very least. They found that photoreceptor cells in the eye were destroyed by the blue light, never to return.
An additional problem that results from overexposure to blue light is a disruption in one’s circadian rhythm. During the day, your eyes are exposed to blue light which causes your awareness to increase and the production of melatonin to decrease in your body. Melatonin, the sleep-regulating hormone, helps the body know when to shut down for rest. Without proper levels of the hormone, humans are not cued into the rest-wake cycle properly. Blue light can shift alertness so that people do not feel tired even when they truly need to rest. Sleep disturbance has been proven to lead to many health problems: obesity, depression, anxiety, an increase in breast and prostate cancers, and memory issues.
To learn more ways to defend your eyes from blue light, read our article “Ten Tips to Protect Your Eyes from Blue Light.” A simple step like decreasing your device usage can make a significant impact. Also, the new Viteyes® Blue Light Defender™ gummy, which contains lutein, zeaxanthin, and bilberry can help maintain your eye health.
