Written in SCIENCE he
Do you spend a lot of time in front of a computer or checking your social networks in the cell phone? If your answer was yes, be careful, since prolonged exposure to the blue light that emit the screen of our mobile devices can affect our health, especially our eyes. In the following paragraphs we explain what this type of light is, what effects it causes and how you can protect yourself from it.
The blue light It is produced naturally thanks to the sun’s rays and is essential for regulating the body’s circadian rhythm, helping each person to fall asleep and be awake during the day. But this type of light is not only emitted by the king sun. It can also be achieved through the screens of the mobile devices that we use daily, such as smartphones, laptops or smart televisions, and that is produced by artificial sources such as LED lights.
In Mexico alone we spend about 8 hours a day using our cell phonebeing the third country in Latin America that spends more time checking the mobile, according to a study published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a figure that could be even higher depending on our activities.
Although work, school, or the simple fact of having done the cell phone an extension of our body makes it practically impossible to be without a mobile device, yes we must be careful not to exceed the time that we are exposed to the blue light his screens.
What causes blue light from screens?
So far there is no medical evidence to indicate that exposure to blue light causes irreversible or serious damage to our health. However, there are certain negative effects in our sight when said exposure is for long periods of time.
The most common consequence when we are faced with blue light of the screen of a cell phone either computer for a long time is visual fatigue, also known as Computer Visual Syndrome (SVI), which manifests itself when we spend a lot of time focusing our eyes on one place, which worsens if the space where we are has little or a lot of light. This condition causes dry eyes, as well as tired vision and headaches.
It can also throw your sleep cycle out of balance, especially if you spend a lot of time using your cell phone at night. This reduces the production of melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep to sleep, making it difficult for you to sleep well, rest and relax at night which, in the long run, could lead to the development of insomnia and metabolic disorders, for example.
The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety of the United States reports that the probability of suffering from computer vision syndrome increases if we spend more than three hours a day in front of a screen computer, something that represents a significant risk for people who cannot do without said electronic device to work.
In order to reduce the risk of developing visual fatigue, due to a long exposure to the blue lightthe following is recommended:
- Take your eyes off the monitor or screen every 20 minutes of work for a period of 20 seconds to rest your eyes.
- Work at a prudent distance from the screen, that is, at least 60 centimeters, as well as with a slight inclination of the monitor.
- Make sure that the space where you are working, doing homework or any other activity that requires you to use a cell phone or computer has good lighting. Also level the brightness emitted by the screen in such a way that it is not difficult for you to see.
- Use filter glasses for himblue light.
- Try not to use your cell phone or computer shortly before bed so as not to alter your sleep cycle or strain your eyes.
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