Hey, fellow Grounded Kiwis!
Have you ever wondered if blue light glasses are another gimmick or the real deal? I can tell you from personal experience that wearing them has made a massive difference for me.
Even as a firefighter and an officer, I got stuck inside the office daily, staring at a dual screen under fluorescent lights with no natural light to speak of! Oh, how I don't miss those days!
Brain fog, eye stress, dry eyes and the occasional headache were the symptoms I would get. I added blue light blocking spectacles and an earthing desk mat, which helped a lot!
Let's be honest here, screens are as unavoidable in todays world. Computer screens or mobiles, we're spending an average of 7.3 hours daily glued to our screens, with a good chunk of that time on our phones. That's almost a third of our waking hours! Crazy, eh? We sleep for about 8 hours a day, so how much time are we spending being present?
Now, here's the even worse news: our screen addiction isn't just about mindlessly scrolling through your mate's holiday, food or cat snaps on Instagram. This high duration of screen time is disrupting our sleep, mood, and focus. Studies from Harvard Health have shown that blue light, in particular, wreaks havoc on our circadian rhythm – that's your body's internal body clock. Traditionally, our bodies knew when it was time to get some 'shut eye' but now we are letting this blue light mess up our sleep patterns and might even damage our eyes over time if we let it. This is where blue light glasses or otherwise known as Anti blue light glasses come in to save the day – or night.
So, why should you consider wearing blue light glasses?
- Sleep Like a Log: Blue light interferes with melatonin production, the hormone that makes you sleepy. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that participants wearing blue light blocking glasses had a marked improvement in sleep quality. Blue light glasses can help you switch off and catch those Z's without resorting to counting sheep.
- Protect Those Peepers: Prolonged exposure to blue light can contribute to retinal damage, as noted in a study by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. Blue light glasses can offer your eyes that extra layer of protection, reducing the risk of long-term damage. Think of it as SPF for your eyes. If you are like me and still spend a lot of time in front of a monitor each day, take breaks, head outside to 'Earth', and try to watch some birds flying. This focus on moving objects is really good for eye health.
- Less Strain, More Gain: Ever feel like your eyes have run a marathon after a solid Netflix binge or a day of Zoom calls? You're not alone. Blue light contributes to digital eyestrain, leading to symptoms like headaches, blurred vision, and general eye fatigue. A study in the journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics found that blue light-filtering lenses significantly reduced eyestrain.
Choosing Your Specs:
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Daytime Blue Light Glasses:
- These filter out about 50-70% of blue light and are great for everyday use. Not to mention, they look pretty cool. Well worth the money spent if you are using these everyday.
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Night-time Blue Light Glasses:
- They block 100% of blue light, making them perfect for winding down before bed. This can help your body produce melatonin more effectively.
Final Thoughts:
If you're still on the fence, I'd like to think that you owe it to yourself and your future self to give blue light blocking glasses a go. Trust me; your eyes will thank you. Who knows? You might finally get a good night's kip without resorting to counting every last sheep in the paddock.
Stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Kiwis!