Blue light glasses have launched into the stratosphere as popular new ways to keep your eyes healthy. You probably never even thought about blue light before it seemingly became such a pressing issue, and now a ton of people you know are using them daily.
But how do they really work? What are the side effects? Should I be using them today?
At Troomy, we took a deep dive into what makes blue light glasses effective, as well as what key benefits and risks they pose. Here are some of the best tips and tricks that we found, as well as some advice on what you may want to do moving forward with keeping your eyes feeling their best.
What Do Blue Light Glasses Do?
Blue light is on the color spectrum that’s most commonly found in all of your electronic, screened devices. After extended use of any electronic device or emitter of blue light, it starts to take a toll on your eyes, productivity, and overall well-being. Blue light glasses are geared toward reducing the impact that blue light has on your eyes, especially when you’ve been studying, watching television, or using your laptop for an extended period of time.
Fortunately, they’re fairly effective in reducing these effects from what studies on the glasses show. However, the times they’re most optimally used depend on the time of day, the volume of screen usage, the intensity of your focus, and more. Particularly at night, blue light poses a few risks and benefits linked to overexposure, including:
Linked Risks From Blue Light
- Eye strain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble reducing anxiety/winding down
- Eye disease
Linked Benefits From Blue Light
- Focus and alertness while using blue-lit devices
- Increased effectiveness of memory
- Elevating reaction times
- Boosting productivity
When Should I Use Blue Light Glasses?
Reading On a Tablet
Reading on a tablet or any device puts you at risk of overexposure to blue light. Try to limit your use of the device by getting hard copies, or at least providing your eyes with adequate lighting. Otherwise, eyestrain and other issues will probably set in after extended use.
Working on a Computer
For personal, limited use on the computer, you shouldn’t be at a heavy risk of blue light issues. However, if your workplace uses screens often and you find yourself at a computer for hours on end, then you should consider blue light glasses and other alternatives.
Playing Video Games
Video games are extraordinarily popular today and tough to put down. You can find yourself in six-hour sessions quickly. Make sure you’re protecting your eyes from blue light with video games well. Additionally, you can invest in monitor protection that keeps your screen from emitting damaging, intense blue light effects. Try to keep your sessions limited, or at least take precautions to keep your eyes safe.
Increasing Your Productivity Using Blue Lit Devices
Take Breaks with Purpose
Breaks are necessary to give your eyes and mind a bit of a breather. You’ll never be at your best if you constantly are getting eye strain and having trouble focusing. Try to implement short bursts of breaks in between sessions of working or even just using your screens for watching tv/playing video games.
Additionally, these breaks need to have some kind of activity or focus to keep your brain distracted from the task at hand. Even if that focus is relaxing and just having fifteen minutes lying down is great. The point is that you listen to your body and give it what you think it needs.
Find Opportunites for Hard-Copy Work
Whether it’s doing light reading for fun or going through important documents, hard copies or printouts will keep blue light as a limited factor in your health and productivity. Although this can get more expensive, it’s still important to consider and try to implement it where you can in your daily routine.
Use Nootropics For Their Organic Benefits
A great alternative to keeping yourself productive using these devices could be nootropics. Nootropics are natural or synthetic blends that are linked to better brain health, quicker reaction times, better energy, more restful sleep, and more. Getting that extra focus you need doesn’t have to impair the rest of the day, leaving you drained and exhausted for the evening. Additionally, having a natural focus benefit can make using screens and blue light technology that much easier.
How Do Nootropics Work?
Nootropics use natural ingredients in a variety of blends to target different benefits. Usually, these natural ingredients are centered around some kind of superfood or highly-concentrated vitamin, like mushrooms for example. Mushrooms have been linked to healing properties and great nutrients that the body needs daily.
