I’m sure that you often get suggestions to wear glasses if you working on a computer-facing screen most of the time. This might lead you to encounter a question – should I wear sunglasses while using computer? In that case, you are exactly at the right place.
From friends to families, everyone suggests wearing sunglasses when using the computer. But how do sunglasses help with the protection of the eyes when exposed to the computer screen? In this blog, we will be finding out whether wearing sunglasses while using a computer has any benefits or not. Let’s begin,
Sunglasses and Its Use on Computer
Sunglasses are primarily designed to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays including both UVA and UVB rays. On the other hand sunglasses such as polarized ones help in the reduction of glare resulting from reflection of light from smooth surfaces such as stagnant water and snow.
When it comes to computer screens, modern-day computer screens such as LCD and LED displays do not emit any significant amount of UV radiation. So, wearing sunglasses to block UV rays from computer screens somewhat sounds irrelevant.
Similarly, polarized sunglasses are specifically designed to reduce glare which is caused by to reflection of light from a smooth surface. This reflected light is completely different from the one that screens of computers produce which is known as blue light.
So, though the use of sunglasses can reduce the overall brightness of the screen, it does not reduce blue light or glare from the computer screen.
Understanding Blue Light and Eye Strain
The light that the computer emits is quite different from the light caused due to the reflection of natural light. The type of light a computer screen emits is known as blue light. The blue light on a computer screen helps to illuminate the display.
Blue light is a natural component of sunlight. While LED displays such as computer screens emit blue light they are much lower than that of sunlight. Blue light has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages of blue light include the regulation of circadian rhythm, enhanced alertness, mood elevation, and overall well-being.
Conversely, the blue light has several disadvantages. Excessive exposure to blue light can lead to the following problems:
Disrupted Sleep Patterns
Excess exposure to blue light particularly in the evening can suppress the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. So, suppression of melatonin might result in a lack of sleep and create fatigue.
Eye Strain
Staring at digital screens that emit blue light for extended periods can result in digital eye strain.
The symptoms of eye strain are dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches as well as eye fatigue. Excessive eye strain can cause difficulty in the functionality of your eyes and make you uncomfortable.
Potential Retina Damage
Some research suggests that prolonged exposure to blue light may contribute to damage to the retina. This ultimately increases the risk of age-related muscular degeneration (AMD), which might cause loss of vision in the long run.
Should you wear sunglasses while using computer?
So far we have discussed sunglasses and their use in computers along with blue light and eye strain. Now, it’s time to finally answer our main question, should I wear sunglasses while using a computer?
While there might not be any adverse effect on wearing sunglasses while using a computer screen, it is not recommended that you use sunglasses while using the computer. This is because sunglasses are primarily designed to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and to reduce glare.
Computer screens do not emit any UV rays but emit blue light and the reflection they produce is different from natural glare. So, this makes sunglasses ineffective in the reduction of blue light and glare.
The use of sunglasses while using a computer might have negative effects though. Since sunglasses darken the screen, it may be harder to see the screen leading to eye strain. In addition, tinting on sunglasses can also disrupt your perception of color on the screen.
Sunglasses Alternatives – Protecting Eyes While Using Computer
Now after knowing that sunglasses are not recommended while using a computer, you might be worrying about what to do to protect your eyes. Well, this is not actually what you need to worry about. Because we will be discussing that too. Here are a few tips you can follow to protect your eyes while using a computer,
Use Blue Light Filtering Glasses
If you are willing to use glasses while using a computer then you can use blue light filtering glasses instead of sunglasses. Blue light filtering glasses have special glasses that can filter out or block the portion of blue light emitted by a computer.
Make Screen Adjustments
The other thing you can do to reduce blue light emission from the screen is to make screen adjustments. You can use a physical filter over the computer screen to reduce glare or blue light. On the other hand, you can also control it through screen adjustment settings. Most devices come with ‘night mode’ which can reduce blue light emission.
Take Regular Breaks
If you constantly stare at a computer screen without taking breaks then this might be one of the major causes of eye strain. You can easily prevent eye strain by simply taking regular breaks. For this, you can follow the 20-20-20 rule which means after looking at a computer screen for 20 minutes, look at anything that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Conclusion
“Should I wear sunglasses while using a computer?” This is a common question that might arise if you work long hours and regularly stare at a computer screen.
Sunglasses are primarily designed to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays and to reduce glare. When it comes to LED displays such as computer screens, they do not produce any UV rays, and glare from them is different from that of natural reflection of light.
LED screens such as computer screens produce blue light which is not blocked or reduced by sunglasses. So, it is not recommended that you use sunglasses while using the computer. Instead, you can use blue light filtering glasses, make screen adjustments and take regular breaks to protect your eyes and reduce eye strain.
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