FOCUS ON BLUE LIGHT damage

Use your devices safely to protect your eyes, skin and sleep patterns

- CLARE SWATMAN

Blue light is a high-energy, short-wavelength light, known as an HEV, or High Energy Visible light, that sits on the spectrum somewhere between ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Like UVA and UVB rays, our largest dose of it comes from the sun, but we are also subject to blue light from many of our devices, including computers, smartphones and TVs.

What’s the problem?

Recent studies have shown that too much exposure to blue light can be damaging to a number of things, including our eyes, skin and sleep patterns. And, while no-one is entirely clear yet on how much is too much, experts do agree that reducing our exposure can only be a good thing.

Home hazards

Although most of our blue-light exposure comes from the sun, there are a number of manufactured sources that all contribute to increased levels of exposure. Computers, smartphones, TVs and tablets all emit low levels of blue light. Even LED light bulbs, which are more efficient than other light bulbs, still emit some.

Although levels from these sources are not high, it’s the amount of time we spend in front of them that causes issues. It’s been suggested that spending eight hours a day, five days a week in front of a computer screen can be as damaging for the skin as 15 minutes in the midday sun every day.

Not all bad news!

Numerous studies show that some exposure to blue light helps boost alertness, memory and cognitive function.

DAMAGING EFFECTS