Because Northwood students are completing their schoolwork at home this semester, students are on their computers a good portion of the day. When school was in person, computers were often only used a fraction of the time spent in each class. Now, students must use their laptop to access all of their learning. They’re also often up late submitting assignments. Finishing assignments at night subjects students to copious amounts of blue light from their devices’ screens. Many students also are on other electronic devices at night. Large amounts of exposure to blue light have been found to have negative effects on teenagers’ health.
Blue light is a short wavelength that is a blue color in the visible light spectrum and produces large amounts of energy. Blue light is beneficial during the daytime because it boosts attention, reaction times and mood. However, blue light at night can be very disruptive. Numerous studies have shown that blue light increases the chance of eyestrain, fatigue, headaches and sleeplessness. Blue light is known to cause these annoyances because it flickers easier and longer than other types of weaker wavelengths. A reduction in visual contrast, sharpness and clarity is all caused by this flickering. Long term effects of blue light can be macular cellular damage, which may lead to vision loss.
Some students are concerned about the harmful effects of blue light on their own health.
“With school work and being on my phone, I would say [my screen time is] roughly 2 hours a night,” says Northwood senior Layla Ruppert. “I am trying to cut back on my screen time because it gives me a headache.”
Senior Navya Babu says that she spends 1-2 hours per night looking at screens “It depends on how tired I am,” she says. “I would definitely love to reduce that number and form better habits regarding my phone and screen time.”
It is important students understand the detrimental effects of blue light at night and how to reduce their exposure.
When you are completing last-minute assignments at night, remember to
- Take breaks from staring at electronic devices.
- Try blinking more often.
- Reduce the brightness of your screens and change your background to warmer colors to reduce eye strain.
- Invest in Blutech Lenses to help block your eyes from blue light which reduces the amount of harmful blue light rays that reach your retina.
More can be found on the detrimental effects of blue light here.
-Loren King
