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There’s no two ways about it; in recent years we’ve become an increasingly digitised society. Many of us spend upwards of eight hours a day in front of a computer or laptop, and that’s just for starters. While our trusty mobile phone was once used for, well, making phone calls, these days it’s become so much more. A news source, an instant messenger, an endless feed of entertainment. It’s no surprise then that as a whole, we spend waymore time than previous generations glued to some sort of device.
But what effect is such excessive screen time having on our health? It’s a topic that’s been gathering interest as our lives become ever more entangled with our devices. In fact, it’s widely believed that the blue light emitted from the likes of phones, tablets and laptops can contribute to digital eye strain, or DES. This refers to an all-round fairly crappy set of symptoms ranging from headaches and dry eyes to fatigue and insomnia. Eek. Another not-too-pleasant-sounding term you may have heard whisperings of is ‘macular degeneration’. It sure doesn’t sound great, but what does it entail?
Macular degeneration refers to a condition that gradually leads to the loss of a person’s central vision. This means it affects things like reading and writing, or anything that requires them to to focus straight ahead. Though painless, it’s a serious condition that’s sadly incurable. For the most part, macular degeneration is common among older people; their ‘macula’, that is, the small spot at the centre of their retina, stops working as effectively as it used to. As it deteriorates, initial MD symptoms may include trouble reading fine print, or experiencing blurry vision. Colours may appear less vibrant, and images aren’t as defined as they used to be. Those with macular degeneration will likely need glasses to help correct these issues.
A number of factors can contribute to MD, age being the most prevalent. Symptoms usually begin to appear in those in their 50s and 60s. Genetics also play a role; natural changes in certain genes have shown to be a risk factor for the condition, meaning that sadly, some of us are simply more genetically predisposed to it. Are you a smoker? It’s definitely worth quitting; the Macular Society states that smokers are four times more likely than non-smokers to develop Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Even more alarming, “smokers with a genetic predisposition to AMD are 20 times more likely to get the condition.” BMI (body mass index) is another potential factor; this study found that “keeping normal body weight and avoiding further weight gain may confer potential protection against the disease.”
As mentioned above, blue light is emitted by digital devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops. This kind of blue light is an artificial version of what’s naturally produced by the sun. And though we need a certain amount of it to keep our circadian rhythmsin check, research has suggested that too much blue light can lead to those pesky DES symptoms (headaches, fatigue, dry eyes etc.) But could it be a contributor for Macular Degeneration? Well, a 2018 US study set about exploring the connection between artificial blue light and permanent eye damage. They found that shining blue light on the eye’s retinal killed photoreceptor cells, those same ones that naturally begin to deteriorate in older people’s eyes. “It’s no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye’s retina,” notes researcher Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, who conducted the study. “Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration.”
Though genetics play a role, there are definitely things you can do to help prevent the onset of MD. For one, stub out that cigarette! Reducing alcohol intake and maintaining a healthy weight may also help you avoid the condition. In terms of blue light, glasses like these Ambr frames not only look great, but block over 55% of blue wavelengths, reducing the amount of blue light your body absorbs as you scroll through that feed. Result!
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