In an age of increased screen time and blue light exposure, eye fatigue and other more serious conditions have been on the rise. While discontinuing the use of screens in this digital era is unrealistic, there are things that you can do to minimize the long term effects.
What causes eye fatigue?
Eye fatigue can be caused by a few different things but most commonly, we see eye fatigue caused by prolonged exposure to “blue light”. Blue light is a high-energy wavelength on the visual spectrum that can be produced by both natural and artificial sources.
What are the long term effects of eye fatigue caused by blue light exposure?
During the American Optometric Association’s study of blue light, they determined that one in three Americans (that’s around 104 million!) get exposed to seven or more hours of screen time a day. With that much exposure to blue light, you are likely to experience some immediate symptoms like eye fatigue, dry eyes, headaches and increase in blurred vision. With long term exposure to blue light and continued eye fatigue, you run the risk of vision changes and age related macular degeneration.
What can you do to combat eye fatigue?
Luckily, there are different things that you can do to combat eye fatigue! Give your eyes a break– less time in front of a screen can help you sleep better and lessen your exposure to harmful blue light. Add a blue light blocker to your eyeglasses lenses– our lab’s Radiance Blue anti-glare treatment blocks the shorter, more harmful wavelengths from getting through to your eyes.
Your eyes are your body’s most complex system and deserve the same care and attention as the rest of you! If you experience any of the symptoms discussed above or if you are concerned about the UV/ blue light exposure in your daily life, bring it up at your next comprehensive eye exam so we can make sure that you have the protection that you need!
