BLOG: Fighting eye strain caused by digital blue light

Although we still talk about how much blue light is “too much blue light” for the retina, many eye care providers are concerned that the additional blue light exposure from smartphones and other digital devices might affect the brain and body. Overexposure to blue light seems to be connected to melatonin cycle disruption, leading to loss of sleep and depression, according to studies. In addition, it might affect the eye by increasing the risk of cataract.

Both iOS and Android smartphones are trying to flee to safe havens. Apple has created “Night Shift,” a new tool that aims at cutting down on eye strain and sleeplessness you might experience when you’re tucked into bed with your iPhone or iPad. This is not an app, but an embedded iOS feature that you can find in “Settings” and then select “Display & Brightness.” You can also decide to schedule it at a specific time during the night. Some smartphones natively integrate a sort of “night shift” function: Cyanogen OS has “LiveDisplay,” and Xiaomi has “Reading Mode.” If your Android smartphone does not run it natively, several alternatives are available to filter blue light, and through a simple search on the Play Store, you’ll find many apps that serve the purpose, such as f.lux or Twilight.