Scientists Now Know Why Blue Light From Computer Screens Contribute to Blindness

DooKey

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Scientists have long known blue light from device screens contribute to blindness. Now they know why this is happening. Researchers at the University of Toledo have published a study that shows how blue light creates a poisonous chemical in the eye when it is shined on retinal in the eye. This is even more damaging at night when looking at screens. Further, they have also discovered that alpha tocopherol can prevent cell death caused by blue light and retinal. If their research proves out it may result in eye drops that can help to slow macular degeneration. Until that day comes try to avoid looking at your screens at night and wear blue light filtering glasses. That's what I do.

When it comes to our eyesight, the various colors of light our eyes are subjected to are far from equal. Blue rays of light, which have shorter wavelengths and more energy than other colors, can damage our eyes over time – they contribute to macular degeneration, the primary cause of blindness.
 
Hmmm, this is good to know. As a life long computer nrd I assumed I'd probably wind up blind as a bat someday but, you know, who knows if you reach that goal right? Still, its probably important for those of us who have been nerding out for decades to look into Blue Light filters. Time to do some research.

...just realized....I wonder WTF my Rift is doing 2" from my retinas... :)

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Yet another reason to hate those blue HID or LED headlights. Plus those all too sucessful blue LED sales critters that have left many of our gizmos with insanely bright blue status LEDs.

Um.

Computers are used to stream porn.

Porn is used to, ahem, enhance self-pleasuring.

My Mom told me self-pleasuring will cause me to go blind.

It’s not the blue light, fellas.

Seems if you watch porn late at night you should be ok due to the large amounts of not blue skin tones. Unless you are into Andorian porn, then you are screwed.
 
I've been using Gunnars at home for a little over a year, now I've got a good reason to have my employer pay for a pair to leave in the office.
 
Never really liked blue light, especially from LEDs, they kind of have a bloom effect. Might be that they are bright as hell. Don't know why every manufacturer thinks it cool wanting to include them in there products. Worse is night lights, where red used to be used because they effect your night eyes and you fall to sleep better. But, nope, lets go to blue because it's new and cool!!!
 
Wondering how bad the leds over my reef tank are for my eyes. They are full of high power blue leds
 
Or you can just turn on 'night mode' on your phone to remove the blue background lighting..... Built right into android now.
 
I predict that California will ban all blue-light-emitting devices within the next decade, to prevent blindness.
Think how much cheaper monitors will be when they only do RG instead of RGB.
Yellow is close enough to white, you don't need blue sub-pixels.
 
I've been using Gunnars at home for a little over a year, now I've got a good reason to have my employer pay for a pair to leave in the office.

How do you like them? Does it make things look weird? I noticed I've been more prone to eye-strain these days especially when I'm programming. I considered getting some to see if they help with the issue.
 
How do you like them? Does it make things look weird? I noticed I've been more prone to eye-strain these days especially when I'm programming. I considered getting some to see if they help with the issue.

They definitely discolor your view, but after a moment you don't even realize it. I originally bought them to help me wind down from evening computer use, and it seems to be helping me fall asleep.
 
My eyes are already f**ked, so I guess I don't have to worry.... Yaay?
 
I somehow completely missed this eye damage story when it first did the rounds.

I guess my eyes are done for at this point. I spend way too much time in front of screens.
 
Now wait a few months and another study will say its fine. These studies are a joke
 
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This article will have convinced exactly 0 people to stop using their devices. Irony; people have to use electronic devices with blue light to read the article about the damage of using electronic devices with blue light.
 
Now wait a few months and another study will say its fine. These studies are a joke

yea, like how many eggs 'they' say are ok to eat per day/week - # of eggs that are ok to consume seems to change once a year

regarding blue light and supposed blindness: sounds to me like someone had a need to legitimize a grant
 
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Now wait a few months and another study will say its fine. These studies are a joke

It's a problem with the incentives when it comes to scientific studies.

No one study is ever considered conclusive. For the scientific process to considered to have uncovered anything of value, the expectation is that several studies replicate the original study, preferably under different conditions and different methods.

The problem is that there is more funding (and fame and fortune) to do something unique and new. Because of this, unless it is very high profile, the follow on replicating studies are rarely performed.

It's further exacerbated by the fact that the news media don't have a clue about how science typically works, and report on every study that is released as if it were absolute fact, even when no replicating studies exist. This results in these back and forwards we have become used to, and results in the erosion of the confidence of the public in the scientific process, which is sad, as it is the only source of truth.
 
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"May...can...possibly maybe..." Yeah, smelly farts could do the same.

That's because research does not prove, it operates in the realm of strongly suggesting. Distribution curves never reach zero on either side of the center point.

As for studies saying different next year, check for differences in methodology when that study comes out. Changing one or two variables can have a significant effect, and quality research will address why its results are different than previous studies.
 
It's a problem with the incentives when it comes to scientific studies.

No one study is ever considered conclusive. For the scientific process to considered to have uncovered anything of value, the expectation is that several studies replicate the original study, preferably under different conditions and different methods.

The problem is that there is more funding (and fame and fortune) to do something unique and new. Because of this, unless it is very high profile, the follow-n replicating studies are rarely performed.

It's further exacerbated by the fact that the news media don't have a clue about how science typically works, and report on every study that is released as if it were absolute fact, even when no replicating studies exist. This results in these back and forwards we have become used to, and results in the erosion of the confidence of the public in the scientific process, which is sad, as it is the only source of truth.

Yep, this.

My research advisor had to beat the word "prove" out of my vocabulary my first year in the program. Studies must be able to be replicated by another team with close to the same results to be really considered strong evidence.
 
I predict that California will ban all blue-light-emitting devices within the next decade, to prevent blindness.
Think how much cheaper monitors will be when they only do RG instead of RGB.
Yellow is close enough to white, you don't need blue sub-pixels.
They'll probably want to ban the color blue outright because it's California. Oh wait, CA loves the color blue...it's red they hate (yes, I went there).
 
That's because research does not prove, it operates in the realm of strongly suggesting. Distribution curves never reach zero on either side of the center point.

As for studies saying different next year, check for differences in methodology when that study comes out. Changing one or two variables can have a significant effect, and quality research will address why its results are different than previous studies.
There is a big difference in actual risk observations and theoretical possibilities. I may die while shitting in the woods from being bitten by an angry fox, but I have a real proven chance of dying by holding highly radioactive material.

Has the study proven a negative effect from real life blue light sources? How strong? How much does intensity and exposure duration affect real tissue? Does it ever exceed a certain minimum damage treshold?

Popping a pimple causes bleeding. You may die from bleeding. Is pimple popping a life threatening action?
 
The blue light filter on phones looks weird at first, but you get used to it quick. When you turn it back off, it's like "Holy Shit My Eyes!"
 
I’ve been heavy into computers since 1989, as I suspect many of you were.

I sit in front of a computer screen all day since 2003. I work in an office and I often game at night and on weekends. I’ve never used blue light filters. I don’t often even use sum glasses. My eyes are still 20/20. I’m 39.

When does this poisoning of my eyes occur, and why hasn’t my blindness started to occur?

I smell something fishy with this study? Who paid for it? Gunnar?
 
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I've never liked blue lights, even when the LED craze hit PCs about 20 years ago. I always went with red.

My keyboard, heatsink fans, and case fans...all red LEDs.

The only non-red LED is in my center channel speaker, and that's been covered with a little square of electrical tape since the day it was new.
 
I’ve been heavy into computers since 1989, as I suspect many of you were.

I sit in front of a computer screen all day since 2003. I work in an office and I often came at night and on weekends. I’ve never used blue light filters. I don’t often even use sum glasses. My eyes are still 20/20. I’m 39.

When does this poisoning of my eyes occur, and why hasn’t my blindness started to occur?

I smell something fishy with this study? Who paid for it? Gunnar?


Yes guys, it's a big government conspiracy to prevent you from seeing the truth, which is secretly hidden in the blue light.

I am an 80 year old smoker who has been smoking 2 packs a day since I was 6, so I guess all of that smoking is bad for you nonsense is BS. (sarcasm)
 
I’ve been heavy into computers since 1989, as I suspect many of you were.

I sit in front of a computer screen all day since 2003. I work in an office and I often came at night and on weekends. I’ve never used blue light filters. I don’t often even use sum glasses. My eyes are still 20/20. I’m 39.

When does this poisoning of my eyes occur, and why hasn’t my blindness started to occur?

I smell something fishy with this study? Who paid for it? Gunnar?

I've been doing it (take your pick) a little longer, and I do have AMD, it's proving that blue screens contributed is the hard part. an ophthalmologist has the tools (and the really bright light) to check your eyes for AMD & cataracts (have these too)). He said AREDS 2 formula supplements help to slow down the inevitable, if not help.

causality is not causation
 
Android had an experimental filter built in but they took it away with an update. I run twilight but it crashes and Android says its killing my battery. Any suggestions?
 
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