Why Does Blue Light Make my Eyes Hurt?

The Blue Light Blues 

So, what's the deal with blue light anyway? It turns out, not all blue light is created equal. We've been basking in the sun's blue rays for millennia, and our bodies have gotten pretty used to it since, ya know...the beginning of time. But in the modern era, we're surrounding ourselves with artificial blue light from LED bulbs and screens. 

The unfortunate truth is that long-term exposure to blue light can have several detrimental effects on the retina. In one particularly eye-opening case (pun totally intended), a 37-year-old woman developed something called "photochemical retinopathy" after using a blue LED face mask. Yikes! It's like her eyes got a sunburn, but from the inside. And while this is rare, it’s important to understand how severe the damage can get when left unchecked. 

Retinal Damage and Degeneration 

Prolonged blue light exposure can cause significant damage to retinal cells, potentially leading to vision problems and retinal degeneration. While this hasn’t been officially tested on human eyes, studies on mice have shown that long-term blue light exposure can thin retinal layers, induce retinal apoptosis (cell death), and impair retinal mitochondria. A small plus side to this concerning news is that many people have found that blue light is very effective at keeping rodents away.  

Oxidative Stress 

Blue light exposure can also induce oxidative stress in the retina, which is just a fancy way of saying cell damage. This oxidative damage can disrupt mitochondrial function and trigger inflammation in retinal cells, potentially accelerating the aging process of the eye. So, while you might be 35, your eyes could be closer to 50.  

Circadian Rhythm Disruption 

It's worth noting that blue light exposure, especially at night, can disrupt the circadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythms—you know, that 24-hour cycle that tells us when to sleep and when to wake up—are hypersensitive to light. For centuries before the invention of LED screens and blue light, humans were awake with the sun and settled into bed when it got dark.  

Blue light helps us stay focused and alert, which is great during the day. But when we're exposing ourselves to blue light at night from our phones, tablets, and computers, we're essentially telling our bodies, "Hey, it's still daytime! Keep that melatonin on lockdown!" 

It's important to note that the severity of these effects can vary based on the intensity and duration of blue light exposure. While some studies show clear negative impacts, others suggest that the blue light from electronic devices may not significantly increase the risk of macular degeneration. Nonetheless, taking precautions to limit excessive blue light exposure, particularly from digital devices, may be beneficial for long-term eye health.

The Bright Side (Get it?) 

I know you’re probably thinking, “an LED company isn’t going to tell me to stop buying LEDs,” and you’d be right. So, before you resign yourself to a life of candlelight and early bedtimes, let me explain myself in a way that isn’t just “I want you to keep buying our lights.” 

Researchers and lighting companies like Sunco already know about the blue light problem and have come up with some pretty cool solutions. 

One team at the University of Houston is working on a new kind of LED bulb that uses violet light instead of blue as its base. The inclusion of warmer red tones into the classic blue helps to offset the negative effects on the eyes. These new bulbs could give us all the energy efficiency of LEDs without the sleep-disrupting side effects. 

Another approach is one that Sunco is very familiar with—warmer color temperatures. Think less "stark office lighting" and more "cozy campfire glow." By reducing the amount of blue light and increasing the reds and yellows, we can create lighting that's easier on the eyes and less likely to mess with our sleep patterns.