The sun is the main generator of blue light - it’s one of the colours on the ‘electromagnetic spectrum’ that combine to form what’s known as white light. In this context, it has many benefits; it’s been shown to keep us alert and focused, even improving our mood. When the sun sets, our body is triggered to produce a hormone called melatonin, making our bodies tired and encouraging us to get a good night’s sleep. However, digital devices like smartphones, laptops and tablets also emit blue light, but in artificial form. Given how often we use them, not to mention the close proximity we hold them to our faces, it’s not surprising that this kind of blue light is believed to cause the likes of headaches and fatigue. It makes sense too that sneaking a peak at our Facebook feed under the covers at night would potentially interrupt the natural sleep cycle outlined above. But are there even more dangerous potential health effects of blue light? Could it cause vision loss, and even blindness?

But what does this all mean for our eyes? Well, an incurable condition called macular degeneration can occur, but usually when a person reaches their 50s or 60s. This is due to the natural death of those photoreceptor cells in the retina, and results in significant vision loss, and usually the need for glasses. But if we apply Dr. Karunarathne’s findings, overexposure to blue light via our devices could lead to macular degeneration much earlier. “It’s no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye’s retina,” he notes. “Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration.” His colleague, visiting Assistant Professor Dr. John Payton, recommends filtering out the potentially damaging rays: “Some cell phone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens,” he says, “and I think that’s a good idea.”  Blue light eliminating glasses are an easier option if you’re concerned. Browse Ambr’s stylish range of frames here.