When you have too much screentime, your eyes are exposed to blue light which can cause many issues. LED technology commonly uses blue light in the displays of smartphones, computers, and other technology. Because children are getting more screen time and having to learn online, exposure is more worrisome.
Do you want to learn more about effects, proper eye protection, and more? Keep reading to learn about the negative effects of blue light on children.
What Is Blue Light?
Blue light is a part of the visible light spectrum. These are what can be seen by human eyes. Because this light has a shorter wavelength, it has more energy and can cause many problems with your eyes.
However, it is not all bad. These wavelengths are good during the daytime because it can increase your attention and they will keep you awake. However, too much exposure can be bad for you.
Sources
What many people don’t know about blue light is that the biggest source in our day is sunlight. This explains why the sunlight helps you feel more alert and improves your mood! Sunlight is also important to develop your child’s eyesight, so it is important to get some exposure.
In fact, if your child doesn’t get enough exposure to blue light, they can have an increased risk of nearsightedness.
While the sun is a good source there are other sources that are artificial. For example, most electronic devices expose your eyes to blue light. They come from the LED screens, computer monitors, and the backlit screens of your smartphones and tablets.
You can also be exposed from fluorescent light bulbs in your home.
Negative Effects
There are many negative effects that can cause damage to your children’s eyes. This is why it is important to take breaks from your screens and to limit your exposure to blue light, especially during the night and evening hours.
1. Issues With Vision
First and foremost, it causes issues with your vision.
Not only can they result in temporary vision deficiencies that can fade, but exposure can also lead to more serious vision issues. These issues include macular degeneration and other types of vision loss.
2. Interrupts Circadian Rhythm
Other than vision loss, it can cause issues with your sleeping patterns. As was mentioned before, it helps keep you alert during the day. However, as artificial sources have been on the rise, people are using their devices and getting exposed to blue light during the evenings and nights.
This throws off your body’s natural clock, also known as the circadian rhythm. When your natural clock is off, it becomes difficult to have regular sleep patterns.
this also means that you may get lower-quality sleep or you are unable to stay asleep during the night.
3. Worse for Children
While it is bad for anyone when they have too much exposure, it is actually worse for children. Because children are still growing and developing, their eyes are not able to filter blue light as well as adults’ eyes.
This means that they are even more susceptible to other health problems. To protect your children, it is vital that you limit their screen time and prevent them from using their devices at night.
4. Other Health Problems
Finally, exposure to too much blue light can cause many other health issues. In children, it increased the risk of obesity, issues with their attention span, and vision issues.
In other studies, it showed that nighttime exposure may lead to depression and other mental health issues. While exposure during the day helps boost your mood, nighttime exposure is worse for your health.
How to Protect Children’s Eyes
If you want to protect your children’s eyes from blue light, there are many steps that you can take.
First, you can limit their exposure. This can be done by lowering screen time limits. When they have less time on their screens, they will have less exposure.
It is also important for them to take breaks from their screens, even if they are using them for educational purposes! Too much screentime can result in blurry vision, dry eyes, and eye fatigue.
If you notice any signs of eye strain, squinting, or sensitivity to light for your children, consider taking them to get an eye exam.
Another way you can help your children avoid blue light exposure is by getting blue light glasses or blue light protective lenses. These lenses are created to block and filter out blue light from your screens. This means these glasses will protect your eyes from the glare of your screen and can even prevent damage to your retina and eyesight.
By limiting exposure to blue light, you can protect your children’s health and prevent issues like vision loss.
Get Protection Lenses Today
It can have many adverse side effects, especially for children who are learning online or who have too much screen time. However, there are easy ways to protect your eyes while using technology. By using blue light protection glasses, you can keep your child’s eyes safe from these side effects.
If you are looking for affordable lenses for your child, EZ Optical can help! Contact our team today to learn more about our products, our specials, or to schedule an appointment with our team!
