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Eye Care Author: Staff Editor Last Updated: Sep 7, 2017 - 10:06:33 PM



Why are Digital Devices Harmful to Eyes and Health in General?

By Staff Editor
May 24, 2016 - 4:42:10 PM



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Why are digital devices harmful to eyes and health in general?

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - "There are 2 reasons", says optometrists  Dr. Eric White,  "One the eyestrain it causes focusing for hours at a finite distance.  In years past we would only focus at a distance then with the invention of computers the focal distance was about 22 inches.  Laptops and tablets put it at 18 inches and now phones and texting are 6-12 inches.  Each time puts more strain on our eyes causing headaches and visual fatigue.  Computer eyewear like Gunnar glasses relax the eyes by tricking the eyes to think they are focusing far away letting the eyes relax and feel like they are focusing at distance.  The second reason is blue light technology.  We now know that the blue light emitted off the monitor in all electronic devices causes eyestrain and tired eyes so by wearing the glasses that absorb blue light your eyes will be more comfortable and your REM sleep will be better".

Why blue light is so damaging to your sleep cycle?

Normal light is full spectrum. To extend screen and battery life, screen light uses high frequency spikes of specific light waves. "It's more efficient but harder on your eyes," says computer eyewear innovator Joe Croft. Doctors recognized this and advise that every 20 minutes, it's smart to look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. And don't look at your computer for two or three hours before you go to bed.He explains why blue light is so hazardous to your sleep cycle. "The spectrum below 450 nanometers has been shown to be the most damaging to the retina, but that's not all. Not only does it create the highest level of retinal cell death but this range of light controls your biological rhythms. Essentially, an abundance of blue light tells your body that it's time to be awake. When you're exposed to it, your body stops producing sleep-inducing hormones such as melatonin, and you wake up. Normally, when the sun goes down, your body starts producing those sleep-inducing hormones and you get tired. 

"If you get heavy doses of blue light continuously from your computer screen, day and night, your brain never has time to turn off. That's why digital devices take part of the blame for an estimated one third of Americans not getting enough sleep."

What are the short and long term health consequences of digital eye strain. (dry eyes cataracts and macular degeneration.)"Dry eyes for sure--the statistic change in blink patterns go from 15 blinks per minute to 5 blinks per minute causing dry eyes.  Also the biggest are headaches and visual fatigue. There has been some literature stating blue light can cause cataract increase and macular changes", say Dr. White.

He explains why blue light is so hazardous to your sleep cycle. "The spectrum below 450 nanometers has been shown to be the most damaging to the retina, but that's not all. Not only does it create the highest level of retinal cell death but this range of light controls your biological rhythms. Essentially, an abundance of blue light tells your body that it's time to be awake. When you're exposed to it, your body stops producing sleep-inducing hormones such as melatonin, and you wake up. Normally, when the sun goes down, your body starts producing those sleep-inducing hormones and you get tired. 

"If you get heavy doses of blue light continuously from your computer screen, day and night, your brain never has time to turn off. That's why digital devices take part of the blame for an estimated one third of Americans not getting enough sleep." 

Who is at risk for digital eyestrain?
The statistics are revealing. About 30 percent of adults now spend more than half of their waking hours on a digital device. And 83 percent of children between ages 10 and 17 use digital devices for more than three hours a day. An estimated 73 percent of nine and 10 year olds, and 80 percent of 13 and 14 year olds now suffer from technology-induced sleep disorders. More children than ever are becoming nearsighted. The most alarming statistic is that 70 percent of Americans currently experience some form of digital eye strain, according to the Vision Council.

People aren't going to stop looking at computers. The solution is to make these devices easier on your eyes. "Eye doctors have long recommended taking frequent breaks, adjusting work stations to be ergonomically correct, and using proper eyewear. Die-hard gamers, many of whom may use their computers for 15 hours a day, have long praised Gunnar's proprietary computer eyewear which is backed by two clinical trials. Now the rest of us are discovering the importance of wearing high-tech eyewear developed specifically for computer and other digital device users. 

How to evaluate computer eyewear
There are many brands of inexpensive eyewear that claim to block blue light. But Croft advises consumers to protect their eyes by wearing computer eyewear that takes a well-studied, scientific approach to the concerns. When evaluating computer eyewear, your checklist should include:


Do they have properly tinted lenses? "Certain tints filter the high-energy visible (HEV) blue light emitted from digital screens. Amber tints not only filter the proper HEV spectrum but also add additional contrast to what you're viewing so your eyes don't have to work so hard. But avoid inexpensive amber lenses, especially those that make the entire screen look yellow. Think about how images and charts might look if you tried that."


How much of the right blue light do the lenses filter? "The lenses should filter the spectrum below 450 nanometers of blue light. If they don't filter the right blue light frequency, they won't prevent digital eyestrain. Also, some lenses filter only about 10 percent of the blue light. Others, such as Gunnar, filter as much as 65 percent. The best assurance that you're getting the right type of blue light filter is to choose eyewear made with a computer-specific color formulation that is integrated directly into the lens material, and not applied as a surface treatment. These are considered medical devices."


Is there an anti-reflective (AR) coating? "Doctor-prescribed eyewear typically comes with an anti-reflective coating to reduce distractions added by glare and reflections on the lens. The best computer eyewear will have this coating not only on the front side of the lens but on the back side as well. Most manufacturers use a greenish coating but true computer eyewear will use a blue AR coating that is tuned exactly to reflect the huge spike of blue energy that is emitted from digital screens." 
Do they have focusing power? "Staring at the screen is like trying to flex your biceps for two or three hours without stopping. Your eye muscles are working hard. You have to look away to relax. We've determined that a lens with 0.2 diopters of focusing power will do a lot of the heavy lifting and let your eye muscles relax so they become less fatigued."


Do the frames have a wraparound design and fit close to the face? "People don't realize that when you look at a computer, your blink rate reduces to about one third. Your eyes get dry. Computer eyewear with a wraparound design that fits close to the face minimizes dry eyes by holding more humidity between the lens and your eyes. This is often one of the first benefits people notice." 
Are they fashionable? "High-tech computer eyewear may be outstanding at protecting your eyes, but you also have to feel great about wearing it." 


Dr. Eric WhiteDr. Eric White has been in private practice since 1985. He is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego and Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. White is a consultant to many advisory boards and numerous professional optometric organizations. He is a clinical investigator for several contact lens companies and has participated in over 375 clinical studies. He was named the AOAs first National Young O.D. of the Year in 1995. He has published several articles on contact lenses and has lectured extensively in the U.S. Dr. White was one of the lead optometrists in the relief effort during and after the 2007 fires in the San Diego area and was recognized in numerous publications for his generous humanitarianism. Dr. White recently was awarded the Transitions National Eyecare Practice of the Year. This year Dr. White was awarded the 2014 Vision Monday National Innovator of the Year for his communication skills with patients.

Biography: Joe Croft
A successful business development entrepreneur, product designer, and brand creation specialist, Joe Croft hails from Stanford University's esteemed Product Design program (BS, 1994), he has pursued a noteworthy career using the unique blend of design, marketing, product innovation, and process building skills taught there.

Croft has honed a specialty in taking innovative, premium branded products to market in an accelerated, rapid-fire fashion and has been the catalyst in many successful product and brand launches. His experience includes Gregory Mountain Products where he was responsible for numerous patents and product line extensions. He then worked nearly a decade at brand-conscious eyewear giant, Oakley, Inc., as a Divisional Manager in charge of new product line extensions.

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