Blue Light and Children's Eyes
Blue light is the light emitted from computers, tablets, and digital devices such as smart phones. The amount of artificial blue light that we are now exposed to during our lifetime is unprecedented, and occurring at younger and younger ages.
Children's eyes absorb more blue light than adults from digital devices. This increased absorption is due to the lack of the protective pigments, which have not yet developed, that help filter out some of the damaging blue light. A child's crystalline lens filters little UV and does not filter the blue part of the light spectrum. A few of the effects of blue light include blurred vision, visual fatigue, headaches, dry eye, and sleep pattern disruption.
Blue light has one of the shortest, yet highest energy wavelengths in the light spectrum. It is part of the light spectrum that is visible to the human eye, and flickers easier and longer than other types of weaker wavelengths. This flickering is also referred to as scattering, which casts a glare that reduces contrast and clarity which results in blurred vision. As the eyes constantly work to clear the blurry vision, eye fatigue occurs.
As children spend more time using digital devices, it is more important than ever before to schedule an eye health exam with a residency-trained pediatric eye doctor. Residency-trained pediatric eye doctors have training and clinical experience that other eye doctors do not, and are uniquely qualified to care for children of all ages.
Even if your child is not verbalizing vision concerns, be pro-active. A professional, dilated eye exam with a residency-trained pediatric eye doctor will give you information you need and peace of mind.
Call to schedule an appointment with one of our residency-trained pediatric eye doctors. Expert care is a phone call away. Our doctors are in-network with most insurances and accepting new patients.