But you may still be wondering: what does blue light physically do to our eyeballs?

The Eyes are Not Very Effective at Blocking Blue Light

 The front part of our eyes, the cornea and lens, are very effective when it comes to blocking UV rays from reaching the back part of the eye (the light-sensitive part called the retina). Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for blue light. Virtually all visible blue light passes through the cornea and lens and reaches the retina.

This is problematic on two levels: short-term and long-term.

Short-term Problems

Too much blue light exposure can be felt daily by our eyes. The most common symptoms include:

• Eye strain
• Blurry vision
• Dry eyes
• Headaches occuring behind the eyes

These are not enjoyable symptoms, but if kept in check early enough they can be stopped before turning into worse long-term issues.

Long-term Problems

 If nothing is done to block overexposure to blue light, more serious risks occur. Chief amongst these is the possibility of macular degeneration. Macular Degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss, affecting more than 10 million Americans (more than both glaucoma and cataracts combined). And there’s currently no cure.

Macular Degeneration is caused by a deterioration in the central part of the retina. Much like a camera, the macula is a sensitive area that collects highly detailed images, which are then processed by the brain. When the macula starts to deteriorate, the images fail to process correctly.

The causes of macular degeneration are not entirely understood or known at this time. Age-related reasons, genetics and environmental influences (such as overexposure to blue light) are the main culprits right now according to scientists.

Like most serious long-term problems, prevention is key.

BluTech Lenses are scientifically designed to help with both the short-term and long-term effects of blue light exposure on our eyes. To learn more, click here.

Digital alarm on the Smartphone goes off. Roll over; check email, Facebook and all social feeds before getting out of bed.

Go to work and stare at a computer screen for the next eight to nine hours.

Come home, check social media feeds on Smartphone or tablet and binge-watch the latest season of “Stranger Things” while groaning that HBO delayed “Game of Thrones” final season release to 2019 as a publicity stunt to torture you.

The point is that most Americans spent a significant portion of their life with their eyes glued to electronic devices. The Nielsen Company conducted a survey and found that the average adult in the U.S. spends approximately 8 hours and 47 minutes daily on an electronic device.

This makes us wonder how much these artificial lights are affecting our eye health.

Blue light goes into the eye, but the cornea and crystalline lens don’t filter it out. This means it goes straight to the back of the eye. Experts believe that long-term exposure to blue light may lead to macular cellular damage.

Optometrists report that patients that stare at electronic devices for extended periods of time report digital eye strain. Symptoms may include blurry vision, trouble focusing, tired eyes that are red or dry and headaches.

What happens is that your eyes are trying to focus on the electronic device’s screen, so your eye muscles are being pulled together. After a while, those muscles feel as though they’ve done hundreds of reps of squats and lunges at the virtual gym, so they get fatigued and tired.

Here’s what you can do to minimize eye strain:

1. Give your eyes a break. For example, take a break every 20 minutes, looking away from the computer screen for 20 seconds and then focus on something that is at least 20 feet away. This is a great 20/20/20 rule. Set a reminder on your phone if you find that you become consumed with work and forget to take frequent eye breaks
2. Light-reducing apps can help but keep in mind the light on your nightstand is also emitting blue light. You can also program some devices to go into a “Night Shift” mode to reduce blue light. However, you should also power down your lights too
3. Investing in Blutech lenses, known as blue light filtering glasses, can help reduce eye fatigue and strain. It is also clinically proven to double your melatonin levels, increasing your ability to sleep and reducing awakenings during the night.

Protecting your baby blues from harmful blue rays can help you maintain your vision and eye health longer.

How does blue light impact you?

Studies show that exposure to blue light can cause eyestrain, fatigue, headaches, and sleeplessness.

Where is blue light?

Blue light is everywhere in our world. It used to be that the only source of blue light was from the sun. Now we have brought blue light inside by way of digital screens (found on TVs, Smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets and gaming systems), electronic devices, LED and fluorescent lighting.

Natural Blue Light v. Artificial Blue Light

Blue light wavelengths are everywhere and surround us. In fact, they’re the reason the sky appears blue. These short blue wavelengths collide with air molecules, which causes the blue light to scatter and makes us process the sky as blue. They’re also a natural form that helps to regulate the body’s sleep and wake cycles, also known as your circadian rhythm. Blue light also helps to boost your alertness, elevate your moods, heighten your reaction times and increase your overall feeling of wellbeing. Artificial blue light sources include electronic devices and certain types of lighting.

Concern about Blue Light Exposure

As one of the shortest, yet highest energy wavelengths in the light spectrum, the blue light flickers easier and longer than other types of weaker wavelengths. This flickering casts a glare that reduces your visual contrast, affecting clarity and sharpness. This can cause eye strain, physical and mental fatigue and headaches if you use your electronic devices or sit in front of a computer all day.

Our eyes have not evolved to provide filters against this type of artificial light. Prolonged exposure to blue light may lead to macular cellular damage, which may lead to loss of vision.

The medical profession is concerned exposure level of blue light for adults and children. Here are some interesting statistics:

• 43% of adults have a job that requires prolonged use of a tablet or computer
• 74% of teens between the ages of 12 to 17 use electronic devices at least occasionally
• 70% of adults that regularly use electronic devices report symptoms of digital eye strain
• 93% of teens have access to or have a computer.

Combat Blue Light Exposure

Here are some things you can do to help decrease your blue light exposure:

• Invest in BluTech lenses, which are known as blue light filter glasses. These are available in three different indoor formulations. These blue light lenses will help protect your eyes and reduce the amount of harmful blue light rays that reach your retina
• When staring at a digital screen, blink more often
• Take frequent breaks from staring at electronic devices
• Clean your screen, as a smudge-free, dust-free screen helps reduce glare
• Change digital device background colors from bright white to warmer colors to reduce eye strain.