Computer screen blue light filters have become a hot topic lately. Especially in relation to headaches or migraines. They are being pushed by everyone from industry insiders to people like Dave Asprey. It’s hard to buy a pair of glasses without having the person ask if you’d like to pay extra for a blue light coating. It’s being pushed hard by industry reps on doctors, but does the logic hold up?
Have you heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
The Mayo Clinic Defines SAD as: Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression related to seasonal changes; begins and ends approximately at the same time each year. If you are like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and continue throughout the winter months, reducing your energy and making you feel bad-tempered. Less commonly, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer.
They then list one of the causes as:
Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in autumn and winter may cause the onset of winter seasonal affective disorder. This decrease in sunlight can alter the body’s internal clock and cause depressive feelings.
The cells responsible for detecting this wavelength are in your eye. They are called Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells or IRPGC’s. They synapse at an area of your brain responsible for your circadian rhythm. Blocking certain light could interfere with their function.
Let’s summarize, a lack of natural blue light can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder. So do you think that maybe cutting out your blue light could have a negative affect too?
So what can you do?
Rather than listen to the marketing hype, use your logic.
- Cut out blue light at the screen. Not your eyes.
- Reduce your screen time before bed. Oh yah, that’s another thing. Screen time before bed, or when you can’t sleep, is like having another cup of coffee, and wondering why you’re having trouble falling asleep. Keep your phone out of reach of your bed.
- If you need to wear blue blockers, get the kind that fit over your glasses, and wear them in the evening when your body wouldn’t get blue light anyways.