Scientists find how blue light from digital devices speeds up blindness

[SoCalDem]

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/scientists-find-how-blue-light-from-digital-devices-speeds-up-blindness-20180810-p4zwsk.html

By Nilima Marshall
10 August 2018 — 3:26pm


London: Scientists say they have found how blue light from smartphones, laptops and other digital devices damages vision and can speed up blindness.

Research by the University of Toledo in the US has revealed that prolonged exposure to blue light triggers poisonous molecules to be generated in the eye's light-sensitive cells that can cause macular degeneration - an incurable condition that affects the middle part of vision.

Blue light, which has a shorter wavelength and more energy compared with other colours, can gradually cause damage to the eyes.

"We are being exposed to blue light continuously and the eye's cornea and lens cannot block or reflect it," Dr Ajith Karunarathne, an assistant professor in the university's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and one of the authors of the report, said.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina.

snip

[3Hotdogs]

1. So your iPhone doesn't cause brain cancer but it does make you go blind.

My father always blamed my poor eyesight on another problem. Now, I know I can go back to what I was doing.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Good news.....it's preventable.

You can get blue light filter glasses.

I have a pair of solely computer glasses with the filter.
They are prescription, since I needed them to unblur the darn screen, and while the exam was 30.00 bucks, naturally the frames were hundreds.

Which I did not pay since I get glasses/frames from a very reputable online place. Total cost was 90.00., 7 day turnaround.

[SoCalDem]

3. I worry about all the little kids who grow up using devices

I know it's a sign of the times, but what will their vision be in 30 years?

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Hopefully parents can tell them.

I know I heard about it several years ago, so the info is out there.

Which reminds me..gotta to nag my kids about it again. ( the kids are well past 40 now.... )

[sweetroxie]

5. You can also get a FREE app called f.lux

It suppresses the blue light on your screen during night hours. https://justgetflux.com

Ever notice how people texting at night have that eerie blue glow?

Or wake up ready to write down the Next Great Idea, and get blinded by your computer screen?

During the day, computer screens look good—they're designed to look like the sun. But, at 9PM, 10PM, or 3AM, you probably shouldn't be looking at the sun.

f.lux
f.lux fixes this: it makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day.

It's even possible that you're staying up too late because of your computer. You could use f.lux because it makes you sleep better, or you could just use it just because it makes your computer look better.

[FreeState]

6. Or if your on iOS it's part of the operating system - just turn on night shift

In settings > display and brightness

[Hekate]

9. My iPad is several years old. In Display and Brightness, all is has is a choice between...

an Auto Brightness toggle and a sliding scale for brightness. What should I do?

Does my much newer iPhone have this an an automatic feature?

I have to say this kind of worries me. My eyesight isn't that great as it is, and I spend hours in the iPad.

[FreeState]

10. Yes it works on iPhone 5s and later, iPad 5th Gen +

Night Shift is available on iPhone 5s or later, iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation and later), iPad Air or later, iPad mini 2 or later, and iPod touch (6th generation).

There may be an app in the App Store for older devices.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Another helpful thing to know.

And not as expensive as glasses, for those that don't need them.

[pnwmom]

8. Yeah, after I read that I changed the settings on my laptop. n/t

[Nonhlanhla]

11. Thanks for sharing this

Important information.