Importance of Blue Light Protection Lenses

Blue light is all around us, with the majority of our exposure to this wavelength of energy coming from the sun. You may be surprised to learn that being exposed to some blue light every day is actually very important. It helps to improve our attention span, enhance our reaction times, boost our mood and memory, and even keeps our circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle) perfectly attuned. Nevertheless, blue light is also emitted by some less than natural sources, including our digital devices. Over the years we have spent an increasing amount of time using technology, and this has meant that the amount of blue light we are exposed to has increased year on year. And unfortunately, this has led to some negative effects. Fortunately, there is a way that we can prevent being overexposed to blue light on a regular basis – blue light protection lenses.
 

What Are Blue Light Protection Lenses?

As their name suggests, these are special lenses for regular eyeglasses that are designed to filter out a percentage of the blue light that we are exposed to. Exactly how much blue light is blocked depends on the lenses that you choose.  

Blue light protection lenses are particularly important to mention in the current climate when many people are working from home and children are receiving much of their education from online sources. This additional time being spent in front of digital screens has the potential to significantly increase the rate at which blue light could potentially harm our eyes and our lives. 

Effects of Overexposure to Blue Light

While we know we need some blue light in our lives to ensure that our sleep-wake cycle is functioning optimally, overexposure to blue light can have a range of detrimental effects. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Disruption to our natural sleep-wake cycle, causing sleep disorders and triggering daytime fatigue. Daytime fatigue can be particularly dangerous since it can lead to loss of concentration when performing activities that require particular care, such as driving or making a hot drink. 

• Patients are more likely to suffer from digital eye strain. Digital eye strain is the temporary discomfort that can follow extensive digital device use and can cause blurred vision, headaches, and neck/shoulder pain.

• Increased risk of macular degeneration, thanks to blue light being able to penetrate all the way to the back of the eye where the retina and macula are located. 

• Increased risk of other eye diseases including cataracts and glaucoma, plus patients are more likely to see their myopia progressing more rapidly. 

• Dry eye syndrome, which can occur as a result of failing to blink often enough when using a digital device. 
   

Reasons to Choose Blue Light Protection Lenses

There is a whole range of reasons why patients should consider using blue light protection lenses for their eyeglasses. These include the following:

• Blue light protection lenses will reduce your risk of certain eye conditions. As we know, too much blue light can make you more likely to suffer from a range of eye conditions. However, blocking out the excess can keep eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts at bay. 

• They will regulate your melatonin production. This will ensure that your body clock is functioning optimally, enabling you to fall and stay asleep more easily, enabling you to get enough rest to be able to enjoy a full and active lifestyle. 

• Blue light blocking lenses could keep your stress levels under control. Everyone has some degree of stress in their life, but elevated stress levels can put you at risk of many other health problems. Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress, and studies have found that too much blue light can mess with our usual cortisol levels, causing anxiety, raising our blood pressure and sugar levels. Blue light protection lenses can prevent this from happening. 

• Blue light protection lenses will optimize your cognitive function and enhance your day to day life. Who doesn’t want more energy and positivity? These are just some of the benefits of preventing overexposure to blue light. Patients can also enjoy improved memory and concentration, less fatigue, and fewer mood swings. 

Want more information about blue light protection lenses? Please speak to our experienced team in Chesapeake, VA today.