Blocking Harmful Blue Light

86% of the average American’s free time is spent looking at a screen

Americans Are Attached To Their Screens

The average adult is spending more time each day looking at a screen than ever:

2014: 7.4 hours
2015: 9.65 hours
2016: 10.65 hours

Kids Can’t Look Away Either

76.5% of parents report their kids spend more than 2 hours in front of a screen each day
78.3% of parents are concerned about the impact of digital devices on their kid(s)
But only 29.1% take their kid(s) in for an annual eye exam

According to a study by The Vision Council, more than two hours of screen exposure caused problems like:

Eye strain
Neck and shoulder pain
Headache
Blurred vision
Dry eyes

1/3 of All Visible Light is Blue Light

Blue light is made up of shorter wavelengths that emit a higher energy levels than other visible light

Sources Of Blue Light

Screens on electronic devices
Fluorescent and some LED lighting
The Sun

Chronic Problems Linked to Overexposure to High Energy Blue Light

Macular Degeneration - Harmful Blue Light penetrates the macular pigment and harms the retina
Cataracts - UV light is absorbed by the lens, causing cloudiness
Pterygium - UV light causes a tissue growth to form on the cornea

Blue Light Can Disrupt Sleep

Our bodies are hardwired to respond to blue light:

Heightens alertness
Improves mood and sense of well being
Boosts reaction times

Exposure to blue light within an hour of going to sleep can interrupt your sleep cycle by making you more alert More than 80% of Americans look at screens within an hour of going to bed

Flickers Create Harmful Glares

Higher energy light tends to flicker more easily, causing glares
Glares cause your eyes to fight harder to see
Suspected cause of many digital eye strain symptoms

From 2000 to 2012 there was a 25% increase in the number of Americans that were 50+ and had late stage macular degeneration— what can we do to protect our vision?

Tips To Preserve Your Vision

Limit Screen Time Early On

0 - 18 months: no screens except occasional video chats with loved ones
18 months - 2 years: monitored time with quality programming
2 years - 5 years: 1 hour max. of quality programming
5 years+: spend time on screens according to parental guidance

Helpful Habits

Use the 20-20-20 rule: Look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Allows eyes to relax
Remember to blink frequently. Not blinking enough can cause dry eye. Putting a post-it note on your computer can remind you to blink
Adjust lighting properly. Overhead lighting causes screen glare
Make sure the brightness of your screen is adjusted to match the lighting of your surroundings

Fixes

Anti-Glare Screens and Protectors- Eliminates glare so your eyes don't work as hard
Blue Light Filter and Apps Changes the coloring of your screen so that there is less harmful blue light
Adjust lighting properly. Overhead lighting causes screen glare
Glasses with Digital Light Protection: Filters out at least 20% of blue light and helps prevent glare

Keep your vision in top condition by protecting your eyes from high energy blue light!

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/30/health/americans-screen-time-nielsen/
https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/content/blue-light-exposure-and-digital-eye-strain
https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/content/digital-eye-strain/kids
https://www.wired.com/2017/03/uncertain-science-behind-phones-blue-light-dimmer/
http://www.bluelightexposed.com/#blue-light-and-macular-degeneration
http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/irritated.htm
https://www.millwardbrown.com/adreaction/2014/report/Millward-Brown_AdReaction-2014_Global.pdf
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Announces-New-Recommendations-for-Childrens-Media-Use.aspx
http://www.statisticbrain.com/corrective-lenses-statistics/
https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/ce/the-lowdown-on-blue-light-good-vs-bad-and-its-connection-to-amd-109744