LENSES
TO BLOCK
THE BAD BLUES
Do you suffer from headaches, strained, tired and dry eyes or blurred vision. These are
all symptoms of digital eye strain.
The Vision Council, which recently released its 2017 Blue Light Exposure/Digital Eye
Strain report, says sunlight as well as digital screens – like those of computers, televisions,
smartphones and tablets – are the most common sources of a person's blue light exposure.
“Blue light, also known as high-energy visible light, is a type of light with short
wavelengths emitting a higher energy,” says Jessica Lutz, marketing and communica-
tions manager at The Vision Council.
“Blue light can penetrate deep into the eye. Studies suggest that there may be a connection
between exposure to blue light and damage to the retina, long-term vision problems, and
suppression of the body’s natural release of melatonin causing sleep disruption.”
People are becoming increasingly digitized and more of our daily tasks include using
smartphones and computers.
The Vision Council report states that more than 87 per cent of people report using
digital devices for more than two hours per day and 52.2 percent report using two digital
devices simultaneously.
The Vision Council recommends visiting your eyecare provider to discuss your digital
habits and to see what eyewear solutions are available to relieve digital eye strain
symptoms and reduce exposure to blue light.
“Many eyecare providers recommend individuals who spend extended periods of time in
front of digital screens wear glasses outfitted with specialized lenses featuring blue
light-filtering and anti-reflective capabilities,” says Lutz.
These specialized lenses are designed to minimize blue light exposure, reduce glare
and alleviate the symptoms of digital eye strain. Additionally, these specialized lenses
are available with or without a prescription.
There are also sunglasses available in Canada that can help to shield the eyes from
harmful blue light.
10 EYE FOCUS | June Digital 2017