#Beyond blue uv blocker skin#

For example, we tend to blink less often when looking at screens. Those issues likely stem from other digital device issues besides the colors that dominate the displays. Of course, the eye strain people experience is very real. That statement would work along the same faulty logic that blue-light-blocking eyeglasses do. (That they cause digital eye strain and emit blue light.) “You could say most phones are rectangular and phones cause eye strain, so therefore, it’s the rectangular shape of the screen that causes the eye strain,” he says.

The supposed connection comes from combining two unrelated details about our devices, Rosenfield says. There’s no biological explanation for why blue light would induce eye strain. Reliably, researchers have found that those with the blue-light-blocking glasses aren’t any less likely to complain of eye strain when the study is over.įor Rosenfield and other scientists, these results make sense. Later, they're questioned about their symptoms. People enrolled in the study are given either a pair of fake plastic glasses or a pair of blue-light-blocking lenses and aren’t told which one they have. The research treats the glasses almost like they’re an experimental medication. Since the products hit the market several years ago, many studies have tried to see if the glasses alleviate the symptoms people complain about when using digital devices. However, blue-light-blocking glasses are sold on that premise - that somehow, the blue light from screens is triggering headaches or dry eyes. If there was blue light-induced harm to worry about, it wouldn’t revolve around our habits with our screens. “We get about 1,000 times more blue light from the Sun than anything we get from a device,” Rosenfield says. However, the amount of blue light coming out of our devices is tiny compared to what we deal with in nature.

#Beyond blue uv blocker skin#

But for now, it’s not clear where the line lies between wavelengths that damage skin and eye tissue and wavelengths that don’t, Rosenfield says. And some studies suggest that blue light rays could interfere with healthy cell functions, too. Researchers have known for a long time that UV rays can damage our eyes and skin.

LED lights, one of the main components of modern screens, emit relatively high levels of blue light compared to other kinds of bulbs. Blue light beams down on Earth as part of sunlight, and it shines up onto our faces when using phones and computers.

The range of wavelengths that make up blue light sit on the edge of the visible light spectrum, just after ultraviolet - or UV - rays. Though annoying, the symptoms don’t appear to lead to any long-term consequences for your vision, Rosenfield says.īlue-light-glasses claim to alleviate those symptoms by, well, blocking your eyes from exposure to blue light. These have been complaints since computers first appeared in the workplace. Understanding the TheoryĬalled “digital eye strain,” there are a suite of symptoms some people experience when staring at screens - like headaches, tiredness, and blurred vision. But there are still other tried-and-true solutions out there. Beyond that, many studies have found that blue-light-blocking glasses don’t actually alleviate the symptoms of too much screen time. The alleged relationship between blue light and tired eyes lacks a scientific explanation. “Now I think there’s pretty strong evidence that they’re not effective.” “When they came out, there wasn’t much evidence whether they were actually effective or not,” says Mark Rosenfield, a vision researcher at the SUNY College of Optometry. It's one part of the visible light spectrum emitting from digital screens, and it's the supposed culprit behind your ocular woes. The product claims to minimize how much 'blue light' wearers are exposed to. Blue-light-blocking glasses are marketed as a solution to that very problem - particularly now that we're immersed in screens more than ever. The endless Zoom calls, video meetings and Netflix binges can leave some with tired or dry eyes. You probably thought screens were a big part of life before.