#DOES F.LUX BLOCK BLUE LIGHT SKIN#

If you're using blue light-blocking glasses to help with digital eye strain, then there's currently limited high-level evidence they work for that purpose. What to consider when buying prescription glasses Some consumers say they don't help much, but in a CHOICE report in 2015 on blue light blocking glasses, some trialists said after using the glasses they 'probably' or 'maybe' slept better.

The glasses or blue-blocking lenses are routinely touted by eyewear companies to help with digital eye strain – and anecdotal evidence is mixed. Some of these devices – such as smartphones and tablets – have blue light filters built in that you can 'switch on' which claim to do the same thing. 'But limiting exposure to blue light by reducing screen brightness, using night-time apps such as F.Lux and Apple Nightshift and turning devices off at least an hour before bed are strongly recommended for a good night's rest.' What are blue light blocking glasses?īlue light blocking glasses have special coatings that filter out the blue light that's emitted from electronic devices such as TVs, computer screens, tablets and smartphones. 'Good sleep is a result of multiple factors and not influenced solely due to blue light from screen use,' says Arundel. However, it's not known if this leads to adverse health effects, and it continues to be the subject of research, according to Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). There have been a number of studies on the effects of blue light exposure in the evenings from LED lights or screens, including that it may interfere with melatonin production, which may have an impact on sleep/wake cycles. What about the links between blue light and sleep? 'More evidence is needed as to whether blue light exposure specifically causes eye strain and research is ongoing in this area.'īlue light may have an impact on your sleep/wake cycle. 'Researchers have shown that high intensities of blue light can damage retinal cells but the majority of this research has been conducted in laboratories or on animal models,' he explains. Wearing contact lenses for more than the recommended eight hours in one session doesn't help either.'Īrundel adds that there have been limited smaller studies and anecdotal evidence linking blue light to eye strain. 'However, I think that the ocular issues we're increasingly seeing are not so much related to blue light but rather to spending hours on digital devices and not blinking as much, which affects lubrication of the eye. This year with everyone working from home, I've seen many patients present with symptoms of digital eye strain Dr Nisha Sachdev, ophthalmologist and director at the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists 'And indeed, this year with everyone working from home, I've seen many patients present with symptoms of digital eye strain. 'We're a very digital society and this reliance on screens is a relatively new phenomenon in the last 5–10 years,' says Dr Sachdev. But experts are sceptical that blue light is to blame. In the US alone, a 2016 survey found 65% of adult respondents reported symptoms of digital eye strain – which typically includes dry, irritated eyes, blurred vision and headaches resulting from prolonged use of computers or other devices. It's a question worth asking, given digital eye strain is thought to affect millions of people globally.

'So at this stage, we don't need to worry about computers or phones 'frying' our eyes.' 'The level of blue light exposure from computer screens and mobile devices is less than that absorbed when you step out into natural sunlight – and is below the international safety limits,' he says. Optometrist Luke Arundel from Optometry Australia agrees. 'However, I don't believe there's any evidence to suggest that normal environmental exposure to blue light, including that emitted from digital screens, causes any measurable damage to our eyesight,' she says.

#DOES F.LUX BLOCK BLUE LIGHT SKIN#

It's also artificially emitted from our digital devices and LED light bulbs.Īs blue light is close to UV light in the spectrum – and we know the risks that UV light pose to the skin and the eyes – it's been the focus of many studies, says Dr Nisha Sachdev, ophthalmologist and director at the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists. What is blue light and is it harmful?īlue light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and most of the exposure we get to it is from sunlight. Experts aren't concerned about environmental exposure to blue light – including that emitted from screens.

Does f.lux block blue light