We live in a world of screens. Evolutions in broadband connections, like GVEC Internet Fiber—the fastest internet technology available, may mean you’re spending more time online at home. It also means many other places we visit or have interactions almost daily, such as work, stores, restaurants, and recreational facilities have become connected in the internet of things. As a result, practically everywhere you look—from computers, phones, and TVs to some fast food menus, ATMs, and store self-checkouts—you’re looking at a back-lit screen. Some people believe this can be bad for your eyes.
Can Staring at Screen Damage Your Eyes?
There’s some debate on whether or not too much screen time causes actual eye damage. However, prolonged exposure has reportedly caused eyestrain, discomfort and headaches for some people. Because of this, many people who spend lots of time in front of a screen are opting for blue-light-blocking glasses.
How Do Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Work?
Blue light is high-energy visible light, and it has the shortest wavelength of visible light. This means it produces the highest amount of energy. Blue light-blocking glasses use specially crafted lenses said to filter out or block the blue light from back-lit digital screens. This is supposed to help reduce eye strain.
But Do They Really Help?
That may depend on who you ask. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology® (AAO), eye strain isn’t caused by the blue light from our device screens, rather how we use our device screens. They recommend taking 20 second breaks every 20 minutes to look at an object 20 feet away. This is known as the 20-20-20 rule. Other recommendations include sitting at arm’s length from you screen, adjusting its height so you’re looking slightly down at it, and adjusting the brightness and contrast.
On that same note, the AAO also says wearing blue-light-blocking glasses won’t hurt your eyes either. Many people who use the special spectacles claim to notice their eyes feeling more rested at the end of the day and experience less headaches associated with screen time.
Draw Your Own Conclusion
If you’ve been enjoying more time online at home lately, we invite you to see if you think blue light blocking glasses are a benefit or a bust. With no prescription necessary and prices starting around $15, they may be worth a try if you’re curious and would like to draw your own conclusion.
And if you’re curious about your broadband connection, whether you’re a potential or current GVEC Internet Internet customer who’d like to see if GVEC Internet Fiber, Wireless or what speed upgrades may be available to you, we invite you to contact us to find out! Visit our Internet Availability Map, or give us a call at 800-699-4832 to speak with one of our helpful customer service representatives.
