When using our digital devices, their screens emit a whole spectrum of visible light, including High Energy Visible (HEV) light, which we see as the colour blue. This is the same highly energetic light emitted by the sun. Before digital screens, our eyes would only ever usually have to cope with this highly energetic light for during the day. However today, we are exposing our eyes & brains to HEV more and more, which can lead to migraines, double vision, blurry & dry eyes and insomnia.

The impact on our eyes, which only used to have to deal with this light for just a few hours each day previously, is that it they become strained, over-worked and exert physical symptoms, known as Digital Eye Strain.

Computer Glasses, also known as Blue-light Blocking or Anti-Blue Light lenses are a scientific solution to a modern problem. They block out the HEV-light, reducing the strain on the eyes and brain. If you spend a large part of your day staring at a screen, or have trouble sleeping at night, then we recommend trying our Computer Glasses to see if they can help you!

There are numerous ways you can reduce the strain on your eyes caused by HEV.

1. Get a comprehensive Eye Exam

The best way to take care of your eyes is to get an optician to take a look at your eyes, explain your symptoms and see what they prescribe. It might be that you need to start wearing prescription lenses, or if you are already, maybe your prescription has changed.

2. Adjust your computer settings

You can often reduce the effect of screens on your eyes by simply adjusting the settings on your devices. Turn down the brightness, increase the font size & contrast or reduce the ‘color temperature’ settings. Check with your product manual or their customer services if you are unsure how to do this. Computer Glasses offer a slight amber hue which can improve the contrast from the text on your screens making it easier to read.

3. Blink more often

Blinking is one of those reflexes that we often do subconsciously. However if you are able to be more mindful of it, and force yourself to blink more often when using your laptop or mobile, you will coat your eyes with more tears and keep them lubricated. You could also use lubricating eye drops from your local pharmacy.

4. Exercise your eyes & take breaks

When you stare at screens for too long, you can get ‘focusing fatigue’. This simply means that you are exhausting your eyes by staring at one thing for too long. Imagine staring at your feet for hours on end, you would soon get a headache from focussing on one thing for so long! This is the same with our screens except, we often stare for hours on one single object without realising.

Every 20 minutes or so, take a break, stare off into the horizon, or something far away and give your eyes a break. During your breaks, make sure to stand up and move about whilst stretching your arms, legs, back, neck and shoulders. This will also reduce muscle tension and fatigue.

5. Consider Computer Glasses

Anti-blue blocking lenses cancel out the HEV blue-light spectrum which causes digital eye strain. Wearing computer glasses whilst using digital devices cancels out the effect of the light shielding your eyes and brain. Whilst anti-blue lenses are not the only solution to digital eye strain, they are an important component to maintaining healthy eyes and brain in this modern age. They are a modern solution to a modern problem.

Let’s face it, many of us often at use our mobiles, TV screens or laptops for hours before switching off the light and then trying to go to sleep. Whilst there are the lucky ones who can sleep anywhere and at any time, many of us struggle with insomnia, which has many other knock-on negative health effects.

One reason why using digital devices before bed-time is detrimental to sleep, is because the screens emit High Energy Visible (HEV) light, which we see as the colour blue. This is the same light which is emitted most by the mid-day sun. When we are exposed to this spectrum of light, our brains think it must be the middle of the day, and therefore need to be switched on and alert. When we are exposed to HEV light for 2-3 hours before bed time, we trick our brains into thinking it is the middle of the day, which can causes havoc with our circadian rhythms by suppressing melatonin levels in our brain, and prevents us falling asleep naturally and getting a good night’s rest.

Computer Glasses solve this problem by blocking the HEV light, and wearing them for 2-3 hours before switching off at night can really help those who suffer from insomnia.