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Have you ever heard of blue light? According to WebMD, Blue light has a wavelength between 415 and 455 nanometers, and is used in most TVs, smartphones and tablets. In other words, when you spend time in front of a screen, that screen time most likely includes lots of blue-light time, which might not be the best thing for your eyes. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to protect yourself, your eyes and your wellbeing while still being able to use your digital devices for work and entertainment.
Eye care tips from the pros
The NYTrecently wrote about trending blue-light glasses. The glasses may seem like an attractive option, both fashion-wise and for your eye care, however research has not been able to prove that there is a positive effect of blue-light glasses on eye health. The mixed results leave people wanting to find other options for taking care of their eyes, since screen time is such a big part of most people’s lives nowadays. Thankfully, there are lots of options out there!
According to The Cleveland Clinic, practicing the 20-20-20 rule is a great option. The way it works is you take a 20 second break every 20 minutes, 20 feet away from the blue light. This simple practice can make a huge difference, and even helps the eyes start blinking again at a normal rate. Which is great!
Another great option is increasing your supplements intake. WebMD suggests going to your doctor and checking if supplements such as zeaxanthin and products with lutein are safe for you, as they have shown some promise with minimizing eye strain and even helping with sleep, for those who find that screen time has an effect on their sleep hygiene.
Practical tips for eye health
Similar to the 20-20-20 rule, taking a break from blue light at night, especially during the few hours before bed. This helps the blue light affect the sleep hormones that the body releases, such as melatonin. Choosing entertainment such as reading and other enjoyable activities before bed is a great choice for maximizing the health benefits you can get while sleeping. And good sleep is one of the greatest ways you can take care of yourself and your health!
There might be some interesting connections between blue light and mental health as well. One of the most important things you can do is to practice mindfulness and get in touch with yourself. If you have been feeling down lately, perhaps it is time to decrease your blue light time a bit or to use some of the tips above. Take care of yourself, your eyes and your mental health, whether it's with the trendy blue light glasses, supplements or other techniques. Your health is important and so are you.
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