Optical Education

Blue Light and Your Vision

When you stare at a screen for hours at a time, whether it is a computer, TV, phone or tablet, you are exposed to blue light from the device. This blue light can cause eyestrain. There are ways to protect your eyes against eyestrain from blue light.

Talk to your eye care professionals to explore lenses that can help with the strain caused by blue light. They can review which eye care options are best for you.

It is also recommended to:

  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule, taking a 20-second break from the screen every 20 minutes and looking at something 20 feet away
  • Reduce overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare
  • Position yourself at arm's distance away from the screen for proper viewing distance when at a computer
  • Increase text size on devices to better define content on the screen

Digital Eyestrain 

With an increase in digital technology, many individuals suffer from physical discomfort after screen use for longer than two hours at a time. The Vision Council refers to this collection of symptoms as digital eyestrain.

More than 83% of Americans report using digital devices for more than two hours per day which plays a key role in digital eyestrain.

Eyewear is available with lenses featuring digital eyestrain-reducing capabilities.These specialized lenses can be incorporated into virtually any pair of frames, so individuals can choose eyewear that complements their personal look, while meeting their eye health needs.

Many people are unaware of the solutions available to combat digital eyestrain. It is recommended that individuals and their child(ren) visit their local eyecare provider to discuss their digital habits and what eyewear solutions are available to relieve the symptoms of digital eyestrain.


Benefits of Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses are coated with a unique chemical film that helps reduce glare. Glare is caused when light from the sun is reflected off of water or a solid surface. By neutralizing glare, polarized lenses help you see objects more clearly, and also help reduce the harmful effects of UV light.

The sun’s rays reflect light in every direction, so when a ray hits a flat surface, the reflected light shines back at your eye and is magnified, causing glare, and it reduces your depth perception, distorts your view and color perception.

Regular sunglasses are designed only to reduce the amount of light that is transmitted through the lens horizontally and vertically. But the chemical filter on the lenses of polarized sunglasses is designed to absorb horizontal light waves, while still allowing vertical waves to pass through. Because light only travels in one direction through polarized lenses, glare is eliminated. Polarized lenses are available in many different lens designs and can be made to fit most types of sport frames as well as fashion frames.

 


What are Transition (photochromic) lenses?

Photochromic or “transition" lenses darken when exposed to UV light, such as when you walk outdoors. When you are no longer exposed to the effects of UV, (i.e., walk indoors), the lenses return to their transparent state. This convenient protection against glare is automatic. Transition lenses are photochromic lenses that block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Most eye care professionals now recommend that people protect their eyes against UV exposure at all times – and starting at an early age. Transition lenses are available in many different lens designs.