What’s Blue Light, and How Does It Affect Our Eyes?

The world is pulsing with electromagnetic energy. It travels around us, and even through us, in waves.

The waves vary in length, with the longest being:

• radio waves
• microwaves
• infrared
• ultraviolet (UV) waves

The shortest include the electromagnetic spectrum of:

• X-rays
• gamma rays

Most electromagnetic waves are invisible. But a small band of waves, known as visible light, can be detected by the human eye. Visible light waves vary in length from 380 nanometers (violet light) to 700 nanometers (red light).

Wavelength of blue light

The longer the wave, the less energy it transmits. Blue light has very short, high energy waves.

In fact, they’re only slightly longer and less powerful than UV waves, which are too short for people to see with the naked eye. Health experts have warned against the harmful effects of UV rays, which can damage your skin and your eyes.

High energy blue light waves are nearly as powerful.

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What produces blue light?

Blue light, like other colors of visible light, is all around you. The sun emits blue light. So do fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs. Human beings are exposed to more blue light than ever because of the widespread use of devices that rely on light-emitting diode (LED) technology.

Computer and laptop screens, flat-screen televisions, cell phones, and tablets all use LED technologies with high amounts of blue light.

Your eye is equipped with structures that protect it from some kinds of light. Your cornea and lens protect the light-sensitive retina at the back of your eye from damaging UV rays, for example.

Those structures don’t keep out blue light. And you’re exposed to a lot of it — the natural blue light from the sun far exceeds the amount from any one device.

Nevertheless, some eye health experts have expressed concern about exposure to blue light from backlit digital screens and devices. This is because people spend so much time using them at such a close range.

A 2020 study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology found that during COVID-19 lockdowns, for example, 32.4 percent of the study population used a blue-light-emitting device 9 to 11 hours per day. Another 15.5 percent used the devices 12 to 14 hours per day — a sizable increase in screen time, probably due to changes in the way people work during the pandemic.

So far, research does not appear to validate the concern about blue light eye damage. While some animal studies have shown that blue light can damage cells in the retina, eye doctors say there is little proof that blue light damages the retina of the human eye.

One recent exception: Doctors reported that a woman who used an LED face mask to improve her skin had distorted vision and a retinal lesion afterward. However, it’s difficult to say whether blue light, red light, or infrared light caused this damage because the face mask included all three.

Researchers point out that because LED devices are relatively new, there aren’t any long-term studies to measure what blue light may do to your eyes over the course of your lifetime.

While current research indicates that blue light from computer screens and handheld devices probably does not pose a serious risk to your eyes, there are some other risks to consider.

Here’s a quick look at the risks and benefits of blue light waves.

Blue light and macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the number one cause of sight loss in people over 50 years old, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). It happens when a structure in the back of your eye, the macula, becomes damaged as you get older.

The result is that you lose the ability to see the center of your field of vision. You may still be able to see things on the periphery. But details and objects in the center of your sight lines may become blurry and, over time, more difficult to see.

Animal studies and lab studies have raised questions about whether blue light could speed up the process of macular degeneration. Still, eye doctors and researchers do not think there is a verifiable link between using LED or blue-light-emitting devices and AMD.

Similarly, a 2018 research review also concluded that there was no evidence blue-light-blocking lenses lessened the chance that someone who has had cataract surgery would later develop macular degeneration.

Blue light and digital eyestrain

Using digital devices up close or for long periods can lead to digital eyestrain.

Research has shown that when people use computers, laptops, and other digital devices, they tend to blink less often than normal. Fewer blinks can mean less moisture.

Digital eyestrain means different things to different people, but is generally related to the focusing system of the eyes.

When your eyes are strained from staring at a blue-light-emitting screen, you might notice:

• dry eyes
• sore or irritated eyes
• tired eyes
• headaches
• facial muscles fatigued by squinting

Blue light scatters more easily than most other visible light. This may make it difficult for your eye to focus when receiving blue light. Instead, your eye may digest blue light as poorly focused visual static. This reduction in contrast may make it more difficult for your eye to process blue light, potentially contributing to eyestrain.

Still, there isn’t much research to confirm that blue light directly leads to eyestrain. More high quality studies are needed.

Blue light and sleep

While the jury is still out on the long-term effects of blue light on human eye health, there is more consensus around the effects blue light has on your sleep-wake cycle.

Light sensors in your eyes and even in your skin can perceive the difference between the intense blue light waves of bright daylight and the warmer, redder tones that signal the day is ending. When the light around you eases into those sunset shades, the sensors in your eyes prompt your body to release your body’s natural stores of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.

A small 2015 study found that when people are exposed to blue light in the evening hours, their bodies don’t release as much melatonin, and their sleep cycles are delayed or disrupted.

According to a 2019 review, when blue light disturbs your sleep cycles, other problems can also develop:

• an elevated risk of hormone-related cancers, such as breast and prostate
• lower levels of leptin, a chemical that signals fullness after meals
• metabolic changes, especially blood sugar

Exposure to blue light provides several important health benefits. It can:

• help you stay alert
• boost memory and cognitive function
• potentially improve seasonal depression
• help with some skin conditions

Help you stay alert

A small 2018 study has shown that exposure to blue light can perk up your reaction time and stimulate alertness when you’re not at your peak performance time of day.

Boost memory and cognitive function

Participants in a small 2017 study who had a 30-minute blue light “washout” period performed better on verbal memory and memory consolidation tasks afterward. Study participants who had an amber light “washout” didn’t perform as well.

Potentially improve seasonal depression

Blue light therapy is now one of the go-to treatments to relieve seasonal depression. Researchers have found that it’s also an effective treatment for depression that isn’t seasonal, especially when combined with antidepressant medications.

Improve acne

A 2015 review has shown that blue light kills acne-causing bacteria and lowers inflammation in acne breakouts. One important note: If you’re going to try at-home blue light devices, make sure you choose one approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Help clear some skin conditions

In a 2017 case study and 2018 review, actinic keratosis and plaque psoriasis have both been improved by treatment with blue light. A 2018 study showed that blue light therapy has also been effective in treating basal cell carcinoma tumors.

The AAO recommends that you take the steps below to reduce digital eyestrain.

Practice the 20/20/20 strategy

While you’re using a device that emits blue light, stop every 20 minutes to focus on objects that are around 20 feet away. Study those objects for 20 seconds before you return to your up-close viewing.

Keep your eyes moist

Eye drops, such as artificial tears, and room humidifiers are all good ways to keep your eyes from becoming too dry and irritated while you’re using blue-light-emitting devices.

Use eyeglasses with the right prescription

Squinting at screens for long periods isn’t recommended for the overall health of your eyes. If you wear prescription eyeglasses to correct your vision, make sure you’re wearing a prescription intended for the distance between your eyes and your screen — ideally an arm’s length away. Most glasses are formulated for longer distances.

Adjust the blue light on your screen

To lower the risk of eyestrain and sleep disturbance, you may want to set your screens to a “night shift” setting with warmer tones. You can also purchase blue-light-filtering screens to slip over your computer screen when you’re working at night. The filter could cut the glare of your screen.

And 2020 research shows that they block 30 to 60 percent of blue light, though it isn’t clear whether blocking the blue will help preserve the sleep-wake cycle for those who use backlit screens before bedtime.

Skip the blue-blocking specs

Studies have repeatedly shown that blue-blocking glasses are effective at reducing blue light, but the AAO stops short of recommending them to protect your eyes because there isn’t enough evidence that they lower eyestrain or improve eye health.

Blue light is part of the natural electromagnetic energy spectrum. Most of your exposure to blue light is from the sun, but some health experts have raised questions about whether artificial blue light could be damaging your eyes.

Some studies have shown that blue light damages cells in laboratory animals. So far, there isn’t much research that indicates blue light from digital devices and LED screens damages human eyes.

Prolonged digital device use leads to digital eyestrain, though, so it’s a good idea to take frequent breaks if school or work involves hours of screen time.

Blue light can also interfere with your body’s internal sleeping and waking cycles, too, so you may want to stop using your devices before bedtime or switch to an amber-light mode.