and why does it matter?
The human body is programmed to be awake in daylight and sleep in the darkness of night. This is due to a chemical process in our bodies that begins when light enters our retina and signals to our brain to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that makes us tired and sleepy. Conversely, when the surroundings are dark, the brain increases the production of melatonin, so we can get a good night's sleep. Before the invention of artificial light, human circadian rhythms mostly followed the sun, but today, artificial light has a significant influence on modern humans' sleep habits. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that exposure to blue light, including white light, can make it difficult for us to fall and stay asleep.
What is blue light?
Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum, which the human eye can see, better known as colors. The different colors emit different energy and are known to affect us in various ways. Blue light is the most energetic radiation, known for increasing people's attention, reaction time, and mood. About a third of all visible light falls under the category of high-energy visible light, which is what we call 'blue light' - in other words, it's not just the blue color itself, but also all other shades of blue, such as indigo, purple, turquoise, etc.
Sunlight is the primary source of blue light, but as a result of the digital age, our exposure to blue light has increased dramatically, and we are finally becoming more aware of the way our digital screens negatively impact us. This means we are now ready to prioritize our health needs
Digitalized world
But where does all this excessive blue light come from? The answer is simple; it's everywhere. From the screens of our TVs, computers, smartphones, and tablets to bulbs, LEDs, and of course, still the sun. With all this exposure to blue light, our brains are constantly told to be awake and alert, even when the clocks tick towards bedtime. Most of us have the habit of working late, watching TV in the evening, or scrolling through our phones before going to bed. These habits all affect our circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep and reducing sleep quality. Nevertheless, there are a multitude of ways to reduce your exposure to blue light, and we're here to help you!
From blue light
It is recommended to reduce the number of hours in front of screens, especially in the evening and at night. It's also useful to adjust the settings on your devices to change their color display in the late hours, so they emit less blue light during this period. However, reducing screen time is not the easiest thing to do, and therefore, many people choose blue light blocking glasses instead. It's an easy and inexpensive way to protect your eyes and your body from the negative effects of blue light radiation, and is even recommended by Harvard researchers. They report that blue light blocking glasses have beneficial health effects, such as improved sleep cycle and sleep quality, better focus, and reduced headaches.