We may never achieve a paperless society but there is no doubt about our increasing dependence on digital screens. Instead of reading newspapers and books, we browse blogs, social media pages, and e-books on our preferred mobile devices. These are much more convenient than the printed materials because we can get the information anywhere at any time. Each item also takes up less space with ebooks usually being less than 1MB in size. A whole library can fit into a memory card that is smaller than our thumbs. On the other hand, the screens expose us to dangerous blue light. Blue blocking readers are recommended to keep our eyes healthy.
Prevent Fatigue
Reading may not seem all that hard but do it for a long time and you will start to feel tired. Your eyes will be especially taxed by this activity. Resting from time to time is recommended. Close them or set your sights to a far distance with a nice view, preferably greeneries. It is even worse when you are looking at screens with backlighting as you are getting the glare from a powerful light source. Reduce the brightness to as low as is practical. Use eye glasses that can block blue light which is the part that really hurts our eyes. You might also want to shift to e-ink displays that are much gentler on our vision.
Sleep Better
Blue light also has the effect of exciting our brain and making our feel more energized. While this might seem like a good thing, it really is all a question of timing. It would be ideal during the day but not so much during the night. Too much exposure will prevent us from feeling sleepy and getting much needed rest. Instead of winding down, our brains will continue to churn and be agitated. Experts advise people to avoid their electronic devices a few hours before they are due to go to bed, especially if they have trouble sleeping.
Ensure Long-term Health
Excessive exposure to blue light, if sustained over a long period, may also compromise our long-term eye health. Some suggest that this could lead to macular degeneration and related conditions. This type of problem is common among older people. Blue blocking readers can help to minimize the damage sustained from such exposure. It is almost impossible to completely avoid screens as we use computers and mobile phones all day. They are necessary in our jobs and everyday life. However, we can manage how much impact they will have on us by using suitable tools and keeping healthy habits.
