Blue light, a colour in the “visible light spectrum” that can be seen by the human eye, is everywhere. From the sunshine rays you are soaking up, to your hand held digital devices. The damage it can cause can contribute to many eye problems,one being Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Age-related Macular Degeneration is a progressive eye condition affecting 15 million Americans and many others around the world. It is the leading cause of vision loss as well as blindness. On the light spectrum, sunlight contains many shades of colors with different energy and wavelengths. Blue light rays with short wavelengths and high energy known as blue-violet contribute to invisible rays called ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Too much exposure can lead to sunburn skin and sunburn to the eyes, this condition is known as Photokeratitis. The main source of blue light is from direct sunlight. For those of you that spend the most time outdoors during the day, wearing protective clothing and applying sunscreen to prevent sun damage is recommended. Blue light rays are also found indoors. Flat-screen televisions and computer screens, also emit the fluorescent and LED lighting. The amount of light they emit does not come close to the amount that is emitted by the sun, but rather the amount of time people spend using these devices. Other risks of blue lighting, is digital eyestrain syndrome: blurry vision, difficulty focusing, dry and irritated eyes, headaches and neck. This increases the chance of cancer and can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss. Although blue light could be harmful for your eyes, it is vital to help boost alertness, elevate your mood and increase well- being. So whether you are indoors or outdoors, you are exposing yourself to these rays. Below are some tips that can help you protect your eyes.
