After UV rays, blue violet light a threat to eyes

Are you looking for a reason to take a break from your laptops, computers and other electronic gadgets that have become an integral part of our daily life?

Doctors say that besides the ultraviolet radiation that strains our eyes, the blue violet light emitted by digital devices is equally harmful.

Dr. Ira Chopra, consultant eye surgeon at Paras Hospitals, says: “While the effect of ultraviolet radiation on our skin and eyes has been well-documented and much talked about, researchers have now identified that it is not the only harmful component of light.”

“Prolonged exposure to blue light may cause retinal damage and contribute to age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to loss of vision. In most cases, this photochemical damage accumulates over a lifetime,” Dr. Chopra said.

According to doctors, the Blue violet spectrum of visible light also has the potential to damage retinal cells. In fact, researchers call this new threat the ‘Blue light hazard’. Further, blue violet light (which has a wavelength between 380 and 500 nano metre) is not just emitted by the sun, but also by artificial light sources such as LEDs, CFLs, and computers and smartphones.

“Given the increased use of new-age lighting devices and the ubiquitous existence of smartphones and computers, what we are witnessing is a much higher exposure to blue violet light than what it was five years back,” Dr. Chopra added. She explained that blue light is a small spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that our eyes are capable of perceiving. Doctors, in fact, say that they are increasingly getting cases where prolonged exposure to computers, television and smartphones have caused headaches or fatigue.

Energy efficient light sources such as CFLs and LEDs emit a significantly higher amount of harmful blue light, apart from computers, cell phones, flat-screen televisions and tabs.

Maintaining the correct posture while using screens and digital devices, making sure that the screen causes minimal glare, reducing brightness and surrounding lights, and positioning the screen correctly can ensure minimal strain on the eyes. Also, regular breaks away from screens can help, say ophthalmologists.