I recently posted in my Blog that Blue Light has a dark side ( http://goo.gl/pWIX9S).  The hazards associated with the High Energy Visible (HEV) Blue Light portion of the light spectrum are well documented. Blue light, including HEV Blue Light, is emitted from hand-held devices such as smart phones and tablets.

Blue light can help elevate your mood and boost awareness. Symptoms such as sleep disorders, headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue, dry, itchy eyes; neck, shoulder, and/or backaches, and blurred vision can be due to exposure to blue light radiating from hand-held digital equipment. Chronic exposure to blue light at night can lower the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, and disrupt your circadian rhythm.

Optical companies are aware of this public health concern and have designed lenses to block harmful parts of the blue light spectrum. These lenses effectively reduce blue light and can make a significant contribution to eye health (and sleep) for those that regularly use screens, as well as limit the symptoms of digital eye strain. Hoya Vision Care introduced Recharge EX3, a lens treatment designed to protect eyes from the straining effects of the digital devices. HOYA’s Recharge EX3TM is an anti-reflective lens treatment that reflects the harmful Blue Light away from the eyes.

Children are also at risk for eyestrain due to their growing use of digital devices.  Children today have more digital tools at their disposal than ever before – tablets, smart phones, e-readers, videogames are just among a few.  According to a study by the Kaiser family Foundation, children and teenagers (ages 8-18) spend more than 7 hours a day consuming electronic media. Before age 10, children’s eyes are not fully developed.  The crystalline lens and cornea are still largely transparent and overexposed to light, so too much exposure to blue light is not a good thing.  Parents should supervise and limit the amount of screen time their children are permitted.

The combination of Recharge EX3 with Sync single vision lens is very beneficial… By reducing the amount of blue light that enters the eye, patients will be able to increase their comfort level and reduce eye fatigue, headaches, blurred vision and other related discomfort that can hamper the efficiency we use our smartphones and tablets for in the first place.

In addition to the new technology lenses always take a 20-20-20 break! Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.