If you use your laptop every day, you should consider using a blue light filter for your computer. The visible light spectrum, comprised of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue, all have variable wavelengths and intensities of their energy. Blue light has the shortest wavelengths and the highest energy output of all visible light, which is why blue light is called High-Energy Visible light, or HEV light. Consequently, blue light has numerous health detriments due to its high energy, such as digital eye strain and disruption of your sleep cycle.
Our daily digital devices, such as smartphones and laptops, all emit blue light, exposing us to its harmful effects. So if blue light surrounds us, why is it essential to have a blue light filter for your laptop?
Why is Blue Light Bad for You?
Blue light is emitted artificially from screen-based technologies and naturally from the sun’s rays. It can help regulate our natural sleep cycle, a mood regulator, and boosts our alertness. However, overexposure to blue light can be detrimental to your health and overall quality of life.
Digital Eye Strain
Digital eyestrain is one of the leading symptoms of excessive blue light exposure. Although symptoms are typically mild, they can demand a solution if side effects are unchecked. Those with eyestrain symptoms can experience a range of symptoms from headaches to migraines, dry eyes, and difficulty concentrating. An easy way of determining if you are experiencing digital eye strain or tiredness is by giving your eyes a break and looking away from the screen. If discomforts subside after a short duration, it may be time to look into utilizing a blue light filter.
Macular Degeneration
There has been some evidence that suggests overexposure to blue light can damage the light-sensitive cells in your retinas. This condition is known as macular degeneration. It can cause blurred or central vision due to the macula in your retina thinning. The macula is responsible for a clear picture of objects in your direct line of sight.
In addition, research has shown that blue light saturation over time can lead to age-related macular degeneration or AMD. Blue light has the possibility of releasing toxic molecules in the photoreceptor cells in your eyes, which is the current leading cause of AMD. AMD is not a condition to be taken lightly, as it can permanently take away your vision if not treated. Thankfully blue light filters are there to help prevent that!
Disruption of Sleep Cycle
Light has always been linked to sleep patterns and our circadian rhythm. The Circadian Rhythm, also known as your “internal clock,” is your brain’s cycles through the intervals of alert and sleep. Typically these cycles mimic a clock, changing based on the time of day rising and setting with the sun. For example, our eyes have sensors to absorb sunlight, triggering the natural hormone melatonin suppression. Melatonin is a sleep-inducing hormone released by your pineal gland. So when the sun begins to set and your eyes start to receive less sunlight, your body starts to release melatonin throughout your body to prepare you for bed.
Blue light mimics sunlight, and in turn, continues to suppress melatonin. Looking at a blue light-emitting screen right before bed can therefore affect the quality and quantity of sleep you receive each night.
How to Filter Blue Light on Laptops
You can filter blue light from your laptop in various ways, be it software or physical screen filters.
Night Mode
Night mode is a feature on smartphones and computers to help reduce the brightness and type of light emitted from your screen. The setting adjusts the colors on your screen using an overlay and adjusts brightness levels. For example, green, blue, and white light are transformed into warmer hues of yellow and orange. Unfortunately, due to the yellowing effect of your screen, overlay settings can have the potentially unpleasant side effect of low contrast.
Although night mode is readily available, it is essential to point out night mode does not eliminate blue light. There has been no research to prove night mode can help with some of the more prominent effects associated with blue light. However, night mode is a step in the right direction to protect your eyes and help with some digital eye strain.
Blue Light Filters
Using a blue light filter is a beautiful way of mitigating the amount of blue light your eyes absorb, allowing melatonin production in the hours before bed. A study performed at the University of Houston showed that blue light filters increased the melatonin production of participants by 58% at night, a considerable boost in production, which leaves researchers shocked that people still claim that blue light filters are a placebo.
Purchasing a blue light filter for your laptop is an excellent catch-all for your blue-light intake, whether using your computer while on the couch or in bed. However, the most popular and recommended solution to eliminating blue light is blue light-blocking glasses.
Blue Light Glasses
Blue light glasses are a widely known solution to blue light, also referred to as gaming glasses, computer glasses, and sleep glasses. These prevent eyestrain via blue light while consuming content on your devices. However, most blue light glasses on the market block less than 50% of the blue light going into your eyes. So, frankly, you get what you pay for in this market. LowBlueLights line of products blocks 99% of the blue light your eyes intake daily using our amber-tinted lenses. If previous pairs of blue light glasses didn’t quite do the trick, perhaps it’s time to try LowBlueLights.
Wrapping Up
Reduce and protect your eyes from the blue light emitted from your favorite device. LowBlueLights blue light filters and blue light blocking glasses are designed to filter out 99% of blue light. So you don’t have to give up your favorite device before bed to sleep better and mitigate eyestrain.
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