How blue light glasses work

The influence of technology on our daily lives is a reality. We spend approximately 30% of our time in front of computer, laptop, mobile phone or TV screens, hence the usefulness of blue light glasses. But what exactly do these so-called computer glasses protect us from?

The LED backlighting of LCD screens emits a large amount of blue light, which is so called because of its cool hue. This is where the blue light glasses come into play. This light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes perceive, and is emitted not only by the sun but also by artificial sources such as electronic devices.

Nordik Project, which develops and manufactures optical quality glasses that can be bought in pharmacies and in their online shop, explains the special features of glasses that filter out blue light.

What blue light glasses protect us from

The wavelength of blue light is below 400 nm and above 750 nm. Daily exposure to this light for many hours can therefore be harmful to our eyes, as there is a risk of damage to photoreceptors and retinal cells. Some of the problems that blue light computer glasses can prevent are:

• Reddened eyes.
• Eye fatigue.
• Dry eyes.
• Computer Vision Syndrome
• Decreased blinking frequency, which is a protective mechanism.
• Alteration of circadian rhythms, causing sleep disturbances.

Many people are in the habit of looking at screens shortly before going to sleep. The problem is that blue light partially suppresses the synthesis of the sleep hormone melatonin, leading to insomnia.
Wearing glasses with blue light protection in these cases will avoid the problem and prevent future negative effects. It is important to bear in mind that the effects caused by blue light are cumulative and chronic, and we may be affected without realising it.

More ways to protect ourselves

• Reduce the number of hours spent in front of the screens of electronic devices.
• If your device has a “night light” option designed to protect your vision, get into the habit of using it. This filter reduces the brightness of the screen and prevents our eyesight from getting so tired.
• When working in front of the computer, rest your eyes every 20 minutes by looking at 6 metres for 20 seconds. This will reduce visual fatigue.

If we add to all these precautions the use of glasses against blue light, which are also very attractive designs, we can avoid problems such as eyestrain, blurred vision or headaches.

This post is also available in: Español