Between phones, laptops, and monitors, most of us spend hours staring at various screens while working or studying. These digital devices have become a crucial component for every one, regardless of what they do. It's almost impossible to achieve a task without using a digital device.

These devices expose you to blue light, which has the potential to affect your eyes.

Besides digital devices, fluorescent lights and LED bulbs also emit blue light to deliver intense brightness in a room. While these lights help you stay focused on your work, they might be giving you headaches, dry eyes, and insomnia. These are some of the potential side effects of extensive exposure to blue light.

The Blues of Blue Light

You can’t completely eliminate blue light from your life because it plays a major role in your health. It helps boost attention, clarity and focus, improves mood and reaction time, and keeps you stay energised throughout the day. However, the problem comes down to its longevity. Too much exposure during work via digital devices or working in bright atmospheres can have a negative effect on your eyes.

Blue light has the shortest wavelength than other types of light, allowing it to pass to the back of the eye. It can harm the retinal cells and increase the likelihood of developing vision-related diseases.

Besides eye strain, blue light can also affect your circadian rhythm, especially if you work after sunset. During the evening, our bodies start releasing melatonin to help us fall asleep at night. The blue light from devices or other lights prevents you from having a good night’s sleep.

Now that you know some of the possible issues behind the exposure to blue light, learn how you can manage it.

How to Manage Blue Light Exposure the Right Way

Buy Blue Light Filter Glasses

You must’ve heard about these glasses. But if you haven’t, they are made to protect your eyes from blue light in digital devices, artificial lights, and sunlight.

These glasses have a yellow coating to them that reflects or filters blue light. When you wear them, the atmosphere around you becomes much warmer, reducing the strain on your eyes. You can get these glasses with or without a prescription.

Install Blue Light Filters on Your Devices

What if you forget to wear your glasses or lose them? Adding a blue light filter to your devices will make sure that your eyes stay protected all day.

Blue light filters aren’t limited to glasses but can be added to any digital device, including phones, laptops, monitors, iPad, etc. It is like a transparent screen protector made using lens technology to reduce the impact of blue light.

Blue light protectors add a coating to your monitors and screens, helping you to manage blue light exposure efficiently.

Adjust Brightness

If you’re working during the evening or night, or in a dark room, the brightness of your computer screen can strain your eyes. The good thing is that every system has the option to adjust its brightness. Most employees forget to do that and use their computers at the highest brightness, resulting in headaches and strain.

Make sure to always adjust the brightness of your screens before using any system.

Adjust the Distance and Height of Your Devices

It’s important to work in an ergonomic setup to prevent hunching, poor posture or eye strain. Keep an arm's length distance between yourself and the screen. While monitor screens are already positioned correctly, laptops and phones are what mostly affect your posture and eyes.

Keep your laptop away from your eyes, and make sure the screen is positioned at eye level so you’re not hunching. Try not to stress too much when looking at the screen because it not only causes eye strain but also premature signs of ageing.

Try the 20-20-20 method

It’s crucial to take adequate breaks to relax and reduce exposure. The 20-20-20 method encourages you to look at an object that’s 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of screen usage. These breaks will reduce fatigue and headaches, relax your eyes, and keep you energised.

Take Eye Supplements

Nutrients like lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, etc., are essential for eye health. Over time, due to exposure to blue light, these nutrients are reduced. You can recover them with external supplements. There are many eye supplements containing all essential nutrients that overcome the damage done by blue light.

Wear a Weighted Eye Mask to Sleep

A weighted eye mask helps create a pitch-black environment and relaxes your muscles to facilitate sleeping. While anyone can benefit from these masks, people who work night shifts should have them to get adequate and uninterrupted sleep.

You can get all these products at MyBlueProtector.com. It supplies Ocushield® products, including anti-blue light filters for screens and Nintendo switch, blue light filter glasses, weighted eye masks, low-blue light lamps, etc. All these products are approved by FDA and MHRA. Visit their website to view their complete range of products.

About the Author

Lisa T. is a blogger, copywriter, and full-time mom. She is currently affiliated with MyBlueProtector.com. In her spare time, she loves baking, going on long walks and reading.