Navigating the blue light protection scam

[Uilleann]

Yeah well good luck trying to get sleep with your circadian rythms all screwed up, science-denier!!

Heh - what sleep? I've got plenty of stresses at work to keep me awake at night as it is! :)

[NAICITPO]

Yeah well good luck trying to get sleep with your circadian rythms all screwed up, science-denier!!

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/06/health/covid-217-shots-hypervaccination-lancet/index.html

I'm no denier, this is me

[Parks133]

When asked by a patient about it, my approach is to explain that there isn't definitive consensus yet as to how much ocular "damage" HEV light causes. (This is a hot button issue apparently and some opticians get extremely defensive over this, despite it being true that not all scientists/research has come to a definitive conclusion that blue light does cause ocular/retinal damage. I think it's important to not make assertions that something is definitely true when we don't know that yet.) I explain that we get exposed to blue light outside in the sunshine too. I tell them that there is evidence to suggest that blue light can make your eyes feel more strained or tired, due to those light rays falling short of the retina. I also remind them that any time you are staring at a screen, be it your phone or computer, you tend to blink less, which can also contribute to eye tiredness and strain and dry eye, so it is important to take breaks to look away and blink.

I have had a patient tell me that they believe the blue blocker helps prevent migraines for them. Maybe that's true or maybe that's the placebo effect. Who knows.

If they ask about blue blocker and really want it, I just put them in Crizal Prevencia or another ar w/ blue blocker, or if they are already adding Transitions to their lenses, I explain that it already blocks out most of the HEV light so it's redundant to add blue blocker. I don't really push blue-blocker as a separate lens option, but if a patient brings it up or complains about digital eye strain, I will mention it but with all the disclaimers I mentioned above.

There indeed lies the rub. We stare at our computers, not blinking and thus drying our corneas out and if we just took the time to keep our eyes moist we probably would have less eye issues with these wonderful devices.

[Happylady]

I have both Transitions and non Transitions lenses and I certainly can’t tell any difference. I always would say that some people feel their eyes are more comfortable but others noticed no difference.

[drk]

Think about it. Can eyes "feel light"? No, they can't. They can feel extreme high intensity illumination outdoors or something, but not something puny like an LED.

[sabastian]

hahaha nice motivation.

[sabastian]

I am also working on it.