Blue Light: Should It Be Avoided?

You may have heard about how blue light affects vision and wonder if you should worry about your exposure. At Wellington Eye Care of Northern Colorado, we want to help you understand how blue light impacts your eyes and how you can minimize its effects. If you live in Fort Collins or Wellington, CO, our optometrist will assess your risk and offer solutions that will protect your vision.

What is blue light, and where does it come from?

Blue light is just one of the many colors on the spectrum that are visible to the human eye. It is a short wavelength that has a high energy output. Blue light is the reason you perceive the sky as blue. Blue light is everywhere. People often associate blue light with computer screens and other electronics, but sunlight is the largest source of blue light. Natural daylight is blue light. LED lights and fluorescent bulbs also give off blue light.

I heard that blue light is bad. Should I avoid it?

As with most things in life, too much of a good thing is bad. If we were only exposed to natural daylight, most people would have no ill effects from blue light exposure. The concern is that our reliance on electronics and artificial lighting exposes us to more blue light than is healthy. Too much blue light can contribute to several health problems including:

• macular degeneration (vision loss)
• eye fatigue
• sleep cycle disruption

How can I limit my exposure to blue light?

Your eye doctor may recommend you limit your exposure to excessive blue light to prevent damage to your eyes. Some things you can do are:

• use anti-blue light glasses if you work in front of a computer screen
• avoid using electronics after sundown
• replace cool LED bulbs with dimmer, amber-colored lights
• install apps that filter blue light

Does Wellington Eye Care offer blue light glasses?

Yes! We offer anti-blue light glasses and anti-reflective lens coatings that can protect your eyes from the harmful effects of blue light. If you live in Fort Collins, Wellington, or the surrounding area, call us today at (970) 568-7161 to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Wellington Eye Care.