In today’s society, it seems like children and technology go hand in hand. Many children use things like computers, smartphones and tablets on a daily basis. Whether it is for school or fun, children constantly have their eyes on screens. The convenience of modern technology has benefitted mankind in many different ways. But, along with those benefits, there are certain drawbacks.
One of the drawbacks is increased exposure to blue light. But what exactly is blue light and why would your children need protection from it? You may not realize it, but that tablet, smartphone, or computer that your child is using could have a negative impact on them.
Blue light is all around us. The biggest source of blue light is actually the sun. Being outside during the day accounts for the biggest exposure to blue light, however, blue light is also emitted from the screens of most digital devices these days. The amount of blue light that the sun produces is significantly higher than anything a person would be exposed to using a smartphone or computer. You might be asking yourself at this point, “What is the big deal?” and many would agree with you. The problem with blue light that comes from these digital devices is that often times our eyes are exposed to this blue for an excessive amount of time. This is all compounded by the fact that most of these devices and gadgets are inches away from a person’s eyes when using them.
Eye doctors and other health care professionals are becoming more concerned that blue light can be connected to a variety of problems ranging from macular degeneration to ADD and ADHD.
Blue light is not filtered out or blocked by the human eye. Nearly all blue light penetrates straight through the cornea and lens, which then damages the retina. If left unchecked, macular degeneration can progress and lead to permanent vision loss. Blue light can also be a contributing factor to the rise of ADD and ADHD. Doctors and therapists believe that this happens because blue light can throw off the circadian rhythm and prevent a person from getting a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep can be one of the number one reasons a person develops ADHD.
So, what exactly can be done to protect your children from blue light? The number one thing that you can do to protect your children from blue light is to limit their exposure to it. Create boundaries and time limits on when your child can use a device and do your best to monitor their use. The next best thing would be to get a pair of glasses that block blue light. Blue light glasses have specialized lenses that block or filter out the blue light that comes from screens and other sources and they can even help reduce glare! Seeking the aid of doctors or therapists can help as well, as there may be other treatments or therapy that can be used to help.
The dedicated team here at the Vision Development Center of Lancaster wants to help your children put their best foot forward in life. Whether you believe they have vision problems or a possible diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, we want to be there to guide you and your family every step of the way.
Contact us today to get more information about our Vision Therapy Evaluation and to schedule an appointment today!