One of the big problems with working with the iPhone on a daily basis is the damage to the eyes that can end up causing over time . This occurs due to the blue light that is emitted from the screen. In this article we will tell you how you can reduce this exposure considerably and also what exactly this type of light is.
What is this blue light thing?
Light is a form of energy that illuminates everything that surrounds us and that is generated naturally or also artificially, propagating in the form of photons. Light itself is electromagnetic radiation that can be within a visible or invisible spectrum. In the case of blue light, we focus on the visible part of the spectrum that the human eye is able to clearly perceive.
Although this is an example of light that can be perceived, there is also light that cannot be perceived, such as infrared. In the case of the human eye, we are able to detect the wavelengths of the spectrum between 390 and 750 nm , considering visible light and therefore blue light. Within this spectrum you can find all the colors that we can perceive, such as red, green or pink. And of course, there is also a part that is dedicated to the color blue.
As can be seen in the visible spectrum that we have previously discussed, the colors appear depending on the wavelength. In the case of waves that are closer to the ultraviolet, there is a shorter wavelength, and therefore a higher energy. It can be clearly seen that this is where the blue tones that are the most harmful are found before the ultraviolet that is the one that the sun emits and that cannot be perceived.
Screens can pose a hazard
A priori, exposure to blue light is not harmful to the eyes since we are exposed daily while we are on the street. But the problem comes when the exposure increases considerably when using the screen of electronic devices at a distance that is not recommended . The artificial light sources that an iPhone emits, for example, has a wavelength that is much more harmful to the retina. This makes daily use of an iPhone more harmful as it has a higher percentage of blue light than natural sources such as natural sunlight.
In addition, different studies have shown that the use of the devices at a short distance increases the degree of exposure. This is added to the fact that on average a user can look at the screen of their iPhone a total of 150 times. All this means that the screens have contributed to the focus of attention on blue light and the harmful effects it can have on health.
How it affects eye health
Within the blue colored light, which represents 25% of visible white light, some spectra can be found that are harmful. That is why not all blue light rays are harmful to health. This is something that can be seen in the visible spectrum that we have previously commented, where there are purple or turquoise areas that have a higher energy and therefore pose a greater risk. Two of them that have an important effect on health must be taken into account:
- Blue-purple light: the one with the most energy, and which is related to fatigue and visual stress. It can also end up causing permanent damage such as macular degeneration, which is closely related to blindness.
- Blue – turquoise light: responsible for marking the times of the biological clock. The fact of being exposed to this type of light after hours can end up causing the rest not to take place correctly causing finally not to have a deep sleep.
In short, blue light has really harmful effects when you have a long exposure. The main effect is on the cells of the macula in the back of the eye, but the most talked about is undoubtedly the variation of the circadian cycle. Light is responsible for telling the brain when to go into sleep and when to wake up. At the moment in which an iPhone is always used before sleeping, this cycle does not start on time, causing poor quality sleep, affecting the quality of life in the long run.
Avoid blue light on iPhone
For all this, if you are a person who uses the iPhone a lot every day, you are at risk of serious health problems. But you should know that there are many methods to reduce exposure to blue light by eliminating it from the device through the different options that the developers include. Although you can also use different accessories such as glasses or even screen protectors that filter this type of blue light.
Activate Night Shift
Night Shift is available on all iPhones to automatically adjust screen colors to the warmest end of the spectrum so your eyes don’t suffer. This reduces the exposure to blue light considerably even if you have to see the screen looking much warmer. It uses the clock and also the geolocation to determine the sunset time in your area. That is why the screen color is automatically changed to a warmer tone at sunset, and when it dawns they are activated again as normal.
In order to activate the Night Shift, you simply have to carry out the following steps:
- Open the control center.
- Press firmly on the brightness control icon.
- Click on the button at the bottom with a sun and moon icon.
You can also follow the path Settings> Display and brightness> Night Shift . In this section of the configuration you can program the time to activate this mode. It can also be activated automatically when the sun goes down and will be activated at sunrise. It can be the situation in which you want to always have it activated to protect your eye health.
Use a screen saver
The main function of screen protectors is to prevent glass breakage when there is a collision with a surface. But in addition to this function, you can find models that have a special treatment on the market. Specifically, we are talking about an anti blue light filter. At first you will see how this glass has a light yellow color to be able to enjoy this anti blue light function.
All this will make the light that comes off the screen not reach your eyes directly. Previously it will go through the screen protector that will absorb the radiation that is harmful to your eyes. Obviously you will not see the perfect colors as if it did not have any type of protector, but it is ideal if you spend many hours with the iPhone and want to have your eyes well protected.
Use of protective glasses
Just as glasses have the ability to filter ultraviolet light, there are also models of glasses that are designed to use electronic devices. These have the ability to filter the blue light that is emitted from screens that emit artificial light. In this case they can be used on the iPhone but also with other types of screens such as the computer. Aesthetically, they have a design very similar to traditional glasses.
There are many models that can be found of glasses on the market. The vast majority have a sufficient quality and are aimed at not damaging your sight. In the event that you have vision problems, you should go to your trusted optician to have prescription glasses that have a protection system against blue light like the models that can be found on Amazon.
