4 Facts About Blue Light Everybody Needs To Know About

Since lockdown measures began, with people spending more time in front of screens that ever before, blue light has been gaining more coverage in society

Now you may be more familiar with the harmful effects of blue light, have you considered protection such as a blue light filter? For most people, the mere mention of “blue light” or “visible blue light” raises statements such as:

“Blue light is that bad that it can cause you to go blind”

“You should never use your tablet again because you can ruin your eyes”

“Blue light is poison for the eyes”

“With blue light exposure, you’ll never be able to sleep properly again”

Although most people know of it, blue light is no a stranger to being subject to misinterpretation. You might be surprised to hear that blue light actually has its benefits and dangers.

To help you understand blue light, we've pulled together some key facts.

In this technology-driven world, it is vital to know everything about blue light, especially because we are exposed to it daily. Here are a few key points about blue light that everybody should know about:

One important fact about blue light that everybody should know is that sunlight is the primary source of blue light. Aside from sunlight, however, blue light is also prevalent in almost every human-made, indoor source of blue light such as (but not limited to):

Fluorescent and LED lighting

Flat-screen televisions

Display screens of computers

Electronic notebooks

Smartphones

When compared to sunlight, the strength of blue light (or High-Energy Visible light) from mobile devices and electronic screens is significantly less. However, the time that is spent on using them and the proximity to us increases damage.

Blue light is what makes the sky look blue

A clear blue sky on a sunny day is in fact, the result of short-wavelength blue light rays that scatter to create its unmistakable look. Compared to other types of light, blue light strikes air and water molecules in the atmosphere the hardest, which causes it to scatter more easily and resulting in a perfect, “sky blue” finish (something we can only dream of in the UK.)

Blue light fact #3: The eye is not well-equipped for blocking blue light

A significant reason as to why the eyes are significantly affected by blue light is because they aren’t structured well enough to withstand the strength of high-energy visible light. The anterior structures (the cornea and lens) may be strong enough to block UV rays out, but are unable to block off blue light from reaching the retina and potentially damaging it. Once blue light penetrates the anterior structures and goes all the way to the retina, the risk of macular degeneration increases—a condition that can lead to permanent eye damage and vision loss.

Blue light fact #4: Not all blue light is bad for you

While it may seem like installing every blue light blocker, never looking at the blue sky again, and avoiding blue light as a whole might seem like a good idea, know that it’s a bad idea to block blue light all the time.

Researchers have discovered that ample, controlled amounts of blue light exposure are vital for good health, achieving benefits such as:

Increased overall alertness

Improved memory

Enhanced cognitive function

Elevated moods (such as treatment of “seasonal affective disorder” or “SAD”)

As fear-mongering over blue light becomes more common due to poorly-researched health articles and self-proclaimed health experts, it is essential to know the truth about the concept. The four previously-mentioned blue light facts on this list are essential for staying on top of misinformation, so make sure to take all of them to mind!

How we reviewed this article:

Ocushield has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

June 16, 2022