How Blue Light is Used in Cellphones

We’ve all heard that blue light is bad for your eyes, but what does it really mean, and what the consequences of long-term exposure to blue light?

Blue light has recently popped up as a common term from concerned critics as technology is becoming more frequently used in our daily lives. The term comes from the visibility spectrum, where blue rays have more energy and a short wavelength. Blue light is as common as any other light you’d be exposed to, but using your phone shouldn’t cause such a detriment in your health. So why is it a big topic? 

Although it is not considered a perpetual problem, blue light can still disrupt your everyday routine, starting with how well you sleep. Nowadays, a lot of people tend to check their phones before they go to sleep, and they tend to stare at a bright screen in the dark. Even though who work at night with limited amounts of light are at risk.

There are ways to reduce the effects of blue light exposure. 

1. Limit the use of your phone at night. This one might be hard because it’s just second nature to most of us now, but it’s important especially because blue light can repress the amount of melatonin you receive in order to get a good night’s sleep. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your sleep/wake cycle.
2. Use a blue light filter. If you really can’t resist staying up binging on that Netflix show or using your phone at night, at least use a blue light filter. iPhones are now equipped with the true light filter as well as Night Shift, and most Androids as well as computers have the feature in their settings. You might see a change in color when it’s used – it should look more yellow as the blue light is removed. 
3. Try blue light filter glasses. If you happen to wear glasses, there are options to include a blue light filter so that you don’t have to remember turning on that blue light filter for every single device at certain times. Otherwise, you can grab a pair online without any corrective lenses, too.
4. Expose yourself to bright light during the day. This may seem like an odd tip, but seeing bright light in your entire view may help offset the bright light only coming from a screen at night.

Blue light is not overall a bad type of light. The biggest blue light you’ll ever see in your life comes from the sun, and it does have advantageous qualities. Blue light helps with mood elevation, cognitive function, and awareness. On a phone, it just gives the screen a crisp clearness that people are often accustomed to seeing. Low exposure to blue light can help with better sleeping, increasing alertness, and reducing eye strain.

If you have any questions regarding your device, device repair, or about any information covered in this article feel free to reach out to us!  You can reach us at (919) 263-2699 or schedule an appointment!  If you have friends that need a repair, you can sign up for our referral program.  You make $5 for every person you send to TCR and they save $5 on their repair as well!