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Night mode is available for virtually all modern computers, tablets, and smartphones and can be turned on/off at pleasure or set to turn on and off automatically. Shifting to night mode is one of the most popular methods of trying to reduce blue light exposure but how effective is it? Is the more costly alternative of blue light screen protectors a better option for protecting you from harmful blue light from devices? Stick around and we’ll find out together.
What is Blue Light?
Blue light is a high-energy visible (HEV) light that is emitted by the sun and digital devices. The sun is made up of invisible and visible light. On the electromagnetic spectrum, visible light lies between the wavelengths 380nm to 780nm. Invisible light, also called ultraviolet light, exists below 380nm and infrared light is beyond 780nm. Visible light which you see as white light is actually a combination of several colours namely red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet in that order.
On the red end of the spectrum, the wavelengths are longer, and their energy content lower. On the blue end, the wavelengths are shorter and their energy content is higher. This is the reason why blue light is referred to as an HEV light.
Is Blue Light Bad for You?
Blue light from artificial sources has been associated with several adverse effects. However, blue light from the sun is good for you. It helps in regulating the sleep cycle, boosting alertness, moods, and cognitive functions. The problem comes in when you spend too many hours in front of a screen or extend screen time beyond day time.
How Blue Light Affects Eyes
Due to its intensity, blue light can penetrate right through the cornea and into the retina, the innermost part of the eye. The retina is very sensitive to blue light and overexposure to it for prolonged periods can damage the eyes.
A common effect of spending too much time on digital screens is a condition known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome. Its symptoms include dry, sore, tired, and red eyes, headaches, neck, and shoulder aches.
The same excess exposure to blue light could accelerate the development of age-related macular degeneration. It happens when the cells of the retina are damaged.
How Blue Light Affects Sleep
While blue light from the sun ensures you have a proper sleeping schedule, blue light from screens messes up with the body clock and makes it hard to sleep. The absence of blue light from the sun causes the production of melatonin which is a hormone that induces sleep. Exposure to blue light from screens past sundown inhibits the production of melatonin so the brain remains alert.
Lack of sufficient sleep leads to a myriad of other health problems such as heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
The Effectiveness of Blue Light Screen Protectors versus Night Mode
If the nature of your job requires that you spend a lot of time on screens up to late in the night, then you need to find a way to filter out the blue light before it reaches your eyes. One way people do this is by turning on night mode.
How Night Mode Works
Night mode applications try to filter out blue light by changing the display to warmer tones, that is, red, orange, or yellow. They do this by using two methods:
Colour Transform Approach- In this method, software tools go around the operating system to take charge of the intensity of the main colours (red, green, and blue). They then suppress the pixels that produce blue light so the display only shows the warmer colours.
Transparent Overlay Approach- This method lays a red, orange, or yellow transparent layer over the display so that blue light is reduced.
In both methods, your display acquires a red, orange, or yellow tint which reduces the contrast of your display. If you’re doing work that requires that you see the original colours, these filters make this hard.
The Superiority of Blue Light Screen Protectors
Unlike the night mode applications, anti-blue light screen protectors retain the original colour of your display. Since they are external filters, they block the blue light coming from your pc’s screen and onto your eyes. They don’t interfere with the colours from the inside as they are displayed on the screen. They are designed to specifically block or absorb light wavelengths that fall between 380nm and 470nm which is where blue light exists. Therefore, screen protectors ensure your eyes are protected and your sleep is not interfered with while at the same time, giving you a full colour experience!
They also contain additional features such as anti-glare coatings which offer further protection from digital eye strain. They are also made from tempered glass that offers protection from shatters and scratches.
You can never go wrong with a blue light screen protector so visit Ocushield and acquire one for both your computer and smartphone screens!
