4 Things You Need To Know About Eye Protection
1. When Blue Light Risks Are Highest
I know by now you have heard that blue light is harmful. This is partly true. Exposure to bright light in the morning and early afternoon is actually ideal. However, as you hit the afternoon your exposure should become gradually dimmer until nighttime.
The angle of light can also be harmful. In the evening, the optimal light that is softer and from lower angles (like a table or floor lamp) instead of bright, direct light.
It is when you are staring at your phone, tablet, or computer from late afternoon into the evening that the real damage is done.
2. Blue Light Glasses Are Worth The Hype
It is important to time when you start cutting blue light exposure. Using those blue light glasses from mid-afternoon on is the most beneficial.
It is still suggested that you step outside around sundown in order to be surrounded with the proper, natural light and the correct angles of light.
This will also help key your body into the fact that it is night and the evenings will become a more pleasant experience.
3. Preventative Eye Exercises To Try
One aspect of age-related vision loss is being able to properly see things close up. This is due to the degeneration of the muscle that is responsible for moving the lens in your eye back and forth allowing you to focus on objects.
Like with any muscle in the body, if you do not exercise it properly you will eventually lose strength and range of motion.
One way to maintain this particular muscle is to try an easy eye exercise.
Every few minutes look away from your tv, computer, or phone and pick and object across the room to focus on. Then, focus back on your screen and back to another object. Go back and forth doing this a few times every 30-60 minutes.
4. Eye-specific Antioxidants
There is a class of specialized antioxidants that are specially used by the cells in your eyes.
These specialized antioxidants are fairly difficult to gain from just eating unless you specifically target foods full of carotenoids.
Most eye health supplements will contain these specialty antioxidants including saffron, lutein, Zeaxanthin, Astaxanthin, and Pine Bark Extract to name a few.