Blue Light may be harmful to your eyes and your entire body

Blue light from the sun is good but blue light at night from artificial sources is bad.

Dr Michael Lange founder of Lange Eye Care and Associates and Fortifeye Vitamins discusses how Blue light may be harmful to the eyes and entire body.  11/12/14

The High energy visible ( HEV) spectrum from about 380-500 nm is the blue light. This blue light is very important to our health during the day time. This blue light is responsible for us being alert, full of energy and cognitively functioning well during the day. However when it gets dark blue light can hinder us.  Blue light is not only out doors it is found indoors as well.  Many of the day-to-day items that we use like television, computers, tablets , cell phones and indoor lighting  emit this blue light. New Research is implicating  Blue light exposure in the evening causing suppression  of melatonin. Melatonin is an antioxidant responsible for a good nights sleep and good health.

When melatonin levels drop our biological clock ( circadian rhythm) is interfered with.   These lower levels of melatonin may cause sleep deprivation and other potential health issues. Here is a link to a Harvard publication discussing  potential problems form blue light exposure .  http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side   We can decrease the potential negative aspects of blue light exposure!

 How can we do this? well…simply by  adopting a rule of no TV, tablet, Computer, Smart phone etc… at least three hours before bed will help dramatically. However, realistically this may not work.

Another great option is to wear glasses that filter the blue light.  Many blue filtering lenses are now available that you can wear in the evening when you are working on the computer or watching television. By filtering the blue light with these lenses you can minimize the potential damaging properties of the blue light.

Talk with your local optometrist to see which particular blue filtering lens is best for you.  Many companies now manufacture blue filtering lenses that can be purchased through a local optical.

Lastly Dr Lange also recommends  eating more foods that are high in two carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.  These carotenoids are found in spinach , orange bell peppers and gogi berries.   There are also many supplements on the market that contain these nutrients along with many other beneficial nutrients.  Dr Lange has developed a supplement called Fortifeye Focus  that contains a mixture of astaxanthin, lutein and Zeaxanthin. This formula was developed to give specific nutrients  that studies have proven may decrease focusing strain while on the computer and  help absorb the  potentially harmful blue light . Dr Lange recommends everyone at any age wear blue filtering lenses especially at night and eat plenty of  dark green leafy vegetables and orange bell peppers.  If you cant eat these frequently then he recommends supplementing with the Fortifeye Focus and Children can take Fortifeye Focus Chewie or a similar brand.

Link to article: http://drmichaellangeoptometrist.me/2014/11/12/blue-light-may-be-harmful-to-your-eyes-and-your-entire-body/