Fiona McMillanDuring daylight, blue wavelengths of light can be beneficial, playing an important role in setting circadian rhythms, boosting attention and mood. But we didn’t evolve to be exposed to it as much as we are. In addition to the ample blue light in sunlight, most of the light we are exposed to via digital devices is also blue. For example, the most common type of LED used in electronic devices is a white-light LED, which actually has a peak emission in the blue wavelength range (400 – 490 nm). Moreover, the eye’s cornea and lens are unable to block or reflect blue light.Increasing evidence suggests that blue light has a dark side. At night, it can suppress the secretion of melatonin and wreak havoc on our circadian rhythms, and recent studies have shown that extended exposure to blue light can damage the retina, though exactly how it does this has not been clear...READ MORE
Current understanding of the effects of blue light from digital device screens on your sight or your child's sight
Sunlight is made up of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet light. When combined, it becomes the white light we see. Each of these has a different energy and wavelength. Rays on the red end have longer wavelengths and less energy. On the other end, blue rays have shorter wavelengths and more energy. Light that looks white can have a large blue component, which can expose the eye to a higher amount of wavelength from the blue end of the spectrum.
The largest source of blue light is sunlight. In addition, there are many other sources:
Blue light exposure you receive from screens is small compared to the amount of exposure from the sun. And yet, there is concern over the long-term effects of screen exposure because of the close proximity of the screens and the length of time spent looking at them. According to a recent NEI-funded study, children’s eyes absorb more blue light than adults from digital device screens.
Related link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21600300?report=abstract
Blue light is needed for good health.....Read More
More information from www.preventblindness.org/
As laptops, tablets and smartphones have become more and more integrated into our daily lives, it makes sense to be aware of any potential negative effects they might have on our health. You’ve likely heard the term ‘blue light’ being bandied about, with suggestions it contributes to all kinds of nasties; from headaches and eye strain to straight-up insomnia. But - we hear you ask - what exactly is blue light, and how is it connected to our use of digital devices? Say no more, as we’ve got the lowdown…
At the same time, healthy young patients of mine in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are reporting chronic insomnia, brain fog, and short-term memory loss, as well as vision strain and headaches in droves.
While there isn't an abundance of research, a few studies are beginning to emerge. Here's what can happen if you stare at a screen all day.
The effects on your brain are both behavioral and structural.
First, smartphone addiction is real. A study of students in 10 countries showed the majority feel acute distress if they have to go without their phones for 24 hours. Meanwhile, most people are checking their phones at least 150 times a day and sending upward of 100-plus texts.
This problematic use of cellphones has been associated with anxiety, stress, and even depression. These habits are causing what top neuroscientists have called "digital dementia," harming important right-brain functions including short-term memory, attention, and concentration in ways that may or may not be reversible.
On the structural side, individuals who are perceived as having an online game addiction show significant gray matter atrophy in various areas of the brain (right orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral insula, and right supplementary motor area) once examined on brain MRI studies. These affected areas where volume loss is seen are responsible for critical cognitive functions such as planning, prioritizing, organizing, impulse control, and reward pathways. These areas are also specifically involved in our development of empathy and compassion as well as translation of physical signals into emotion.
Additionally, kids are at risk, too. Findings from an ongoing NIH study on 9- and 10-year-olds show that those who use smartphones, tablets, and video games more than seven hours a day are more likely to have premature thinning of the cortex—the outermost layer of the brain where most information processing occurs. At this point, researchers aren't sure if that's a bad thing and.....READ MORE
More information from mbghealth
In our screen-addled age, blue light is an unavoidable part of daily life. It radiates from your work desktop, your smartphone, and even the energy-saving LED lights you installed in the kitchen.
While research into the negative health effects of blue light is not fully conclusive, it has been linked to various ailments from cancer and diabetes to heart disease, obesity, and poorer sleep. To add to that list, scientists presenting at this year’s conference of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB) say that blue light can trigger excessive sugary snack consumption – at least in rats.
The study found an hour of blue light exposure at night (aka: just enough time to watch an episode of The Crownor precisely six-tenths of Finding Nemo) led to elevated blood sugar levels and increased sugar consumption among male rats. The researchers note that their glucose-tolerance levels changed post-exposure – a warning sign of pre-diabetes.
Over the course of the study, the rats had their choice of nutritionally balanced food (i.e. standard rodent food), water, lard, and sugar water. When exposed to blue light at night – even for as short a time as one hour – they drank more sugar than when not. The rats were tested following a night of blue light exposure but more consistent exposure levels could result in weight gain and a diabetes diagnosis.
Though it is important to note that these observations were made in rats (and male rats specifically), the researchers warn that a similar process could be at work in people (and men, in particular) who are tied to their screens. READ MORE
More information from iflscience.com
Comments
0 Comments