There is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices causes damage to your eye.

Question

According to the website linked below, blue light by itself does not cause eye damage. Since the sun contains all spectrums of light (including blue), does blue light really cause damage? Or do people simply want to blame device overuse?

Comments

I am not fully education on technology systems and how screens work but I'd assume that the concentration of blue light may be harmful while a large portion of the sun's light is blocked by the atmosphere and clouds.

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Based on my research of this topic and review of your linked AAO.org article as well as many other medical professionals and eye specialists, it does appear that some people may be blaming devices on over use and lumping the actual effects of screen time and eye health under the term "damage." While this blue light exposure does cause eye strain and interferes with our sleep pattern, permanent damage does not seem to be a factual description. I can easily imagine, however, where a lot of people, especially parents of young children, might explain limiting their screen time based on a generalized idea of "damage."

Answer 1

The AAO emphasizes that blue light from screens does not cause permanent eye damage. They explain how there is no scientific evidence backing the damage from blue light and the discomfort that some people experience after extended screen time is likely due to digital eye strain, caused by decreased blinking and dry eyes rather than blue light itself. AAO also says that there is not enough blue light waves to cause permanent damage. They do mention that blue light can cause disruption in sleeping patterns. In an article by UC Davis they also agree that digital eye strain is a significant issue and not caused directly by blue light, UC Davis highlights that the blue light from screens is a very small amount compared to the amount of exposure from the sun .UC Davis Evidence

Comments

I also read this article (AAO.org) and many other peer reviewed research articles on the same topic. Your response clearly states that evidence shows that there is not actually eye damage associated with blue light so I find it confusing that you would categorize this headline as "true." At best, it is exaggerated/misleading as a commenter below stated.

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I think the "true" refers to the claim: There is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices causes damage to your eye. While it was concluded that blue light damaging the eye is "false", the claim nonetheless is true. The evidence backs up the claim of NOT damaging the eye.

Answer 2

The article claims that “there is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices causes damage to your eye”. Upon searching this claim, many articles appeared from well-established research facilities such as the American Academy of Opthalmology, which created the article being fact-checked, Harvard Health, the National Center for Biotechnological Information, and the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Additionally, websites such as Web MD and US News Health cited the American Academy of Opthalmology in articles addressing the same claim. Given the AAO’s establishment as a reliable, scientific research organization, founded in 1896 as a professional association specializing in the study of eye health, the research it conducts is widely trusted. In addition, their results are supported by separate studies conducted by other research-based and university-level organizations. However, the AAO, Harvard Health, and the National Center for Biotechnological Information all acknowledge that research on the effects of blue light is relatively new and long-term effects are yet to be determined or researched. Overall, the article is balanced and explains digital eye strain caused by devices and blue light’s proven effect on the circadian rhythm, while assessing that there is a lack of evidence to support the claim that blue light causes damage to the eye. The article is edited by a Public Relations Manager of AAO, reviewed by Rahul Khurana, who has an extensive medical and education background on eye health, and written by Celia Vimont, a free-lance medical journalist of over 20 years, who has worked with various hospitals, non-profits, and professional publishing companies. The personnel involved in this writing have relevant backgrounds and experience in their fields, asserting their reliability. Based on supporting claims, reliable authors and facilities, and balanced reporting, I would say this claim is true.

Answer 3

“There is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices causes damage to your eye.” This claim appears to be somewhat true but exaggerated. The original claim comes from an article published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a trusted news source, yet the article was written by a journalist with no actual medical experience. A study published by the National Institute of Health provides clarification that “a certain extent of blue light can promote human eye refractive development and regulate circadian rhythm, but harmful blue light-induced effects on human eyes should not be ignored, blue light can also produce different degree of damage to corneal, crystal lens and retina”. Another study from UC Davis Health acknowledges that “blue light exposure from screens is small” but “since our eyes are not good at blocking blue light, nearly all visible blue light passes through the front of the eye (cornea and lens) reach(ing) the retina”. An article from Harvard medical school argues that “blue light from electronic devices is not going to increase the risk of macular degeneration or harm any other part of the eye. However, the use of these devices may disrupt sleep or disturb other aspects of your health or circadian rhythm”. The study of blue light effects on the human eye is still a relatively new area of research, and therefore nobody seems to be able to agree on what exactly blue light does to our eyes. Most experts acknowledge that blue light has the potential to be harmful to our eyes, but factors like screen-time and the strength of blue light from our devices must be taken into account when calculating the amount of damage done to our eyes.

Answer 4

As this article explains, "blue light" does not majorly damage your retinas at all. Any eye strain experienced is not damaging and can be fixed with recovery and rest. However the article does state that blue light affects our circadian rhythm and can affect a person's sleep, so blue light can damage your life in other areas.

Answer 5

According to spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), Rahul Khurana, MD, eye damage or discomfort is not caused by blue light radiation, but most likely from "digital eye strain", due to less blinking while looking at a screen for an extended duration of time, leading to dry eyes. Although blue light is also found in the sun, this does not mean that blue light coming from devices does not lead to eye damage or discomfort.

After further research, the UC David Health Department claims that although the amount of exposure to blue light is not as large as that from the sun, there is a correlation between screen time and long-term effects of blue light from devices. This is due to the fact that our eyes are not suitable for blocking blue light, therefore the light passes from the screen through the front of our eyes, and then reaches the retina, "that cells that convert light for the brain to process into images". UC Davis Health Department then explains that long-term exposure to the extend of blue light from screens that the average American endures could eventually cause vision problems like age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and eye cancer. Ultimately, while devices are not the only culprit of blue light exposure, it is not completely accurate to say that blue light from devices does not cause damage to eyes.

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/should-you-be-worried-about-blue-light

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/blue-light-effects-on-your-eyes-sleep-and-health/2022/08

Answer 6

The article from the American Academy of Ophthalmology claims that blue light from technological devices does not in fact cause damage to your eyes. The author futher explains that there is no evidence suggesting blue light is what is effecting eyes but instead, your eyes hurt from eye strain. The article claims that because you blink less while using devises, your eyes are just strained. However, they do state that blue light will effect sleep patterns. Personally, I had not heard of American Academy of Ophthalmology, so I did some reaserch. According to Natural Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is one of the highest impact journals in the field of ophthalmology. Also, in an article from UC Davis, it is stated that the blue light from screens may cause eye strain however, the light from the sun is a much bigger problem. This therefore, agrees with the articles claim. Overall, I would say this claim has good evidence and could be considered true.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10630667/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20highest%2Dimpact,been%20publishing%20articles%20since%201978.

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/blue-light-effects-on-your-eyes-sleep-and-health/2022/08

Answer 7

“There is no scientific evidence proving that blue light from digital devices damages your eyes.” Panicking headlines that claim excessive blue light exposure leads to blindness are misleading. It’s crucial to examine the facts. Rahul Khuruna highlights that many people experience discomfort from using their phones or computers, primarily due to "eye strain." It's important to recognize that eye strain is a symptom, not a distinct condition. The most effective way to combat it is by following the "20-20-20" rule: every 20 minutes, focus on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Furthermore, you get significantly more blue light exposure from the sun than from your screens. In Celia Vimont's article it is clearly stated that, while blue light is often linked to digital devices, the sun is by far the largest source. It's essential to get adequate sunlight, as insufficient exposure can negatively impact your growth and visual development. Dr. Khuruna asserts that taking preventive measures against blue light—despite the absence of evidence for its harmful effects—could be more damaging than blue light itself. It is premature and unnecessary to implement these measures when there is no scientific backing that the light from computer screens harms the eyes. Such actions could lead to unintended consequences.

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/should-you-be-worried-about-blue-light

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/are-computer-glasses-worth-it

Answer 8

In this article by the American Academy of Opthalmology, they are claiming that the reason our eyes hurt when looking at a screen isn’t because of the blue light, but because of the fact that most people blink less when looking at a screen, causing digital eye strain. They recommend using techniques such as the “20-20-20” rule which means “shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds”, and using eyedrops to lubricate the eyes. They also claim that blue light glasses have zero effect on protecting the eyes. 

 

An article from UC Davis by Melissa Barnett:

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/blue-light-effects-on-your-eyes-sleep-and-health/2022/08

“Since our eyes are not good at blocking blue light, nearly all visible blue light passes through the front of the eye (cornea and lens). It then reaches the retina, the cells that convert light for the brain to process into images.” 80% of Americans use digital devices for two hours or more a day, and 51% experience symptoms of digital eye strain (The Vision Council). Uninterrupted blue light exposure can damage retinal cells and cause vision problems, as well as cataracts and eye cancer. 

From PubMed Central:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6288536/

“In the visible spectrum, short-wave blue light with wavelength between 415 nm and 455 nm is closely related to eye light damage”. They claim this damage can cause irreversible photochemical retinal damage. 

Blue lights are proven to trigger inflammation of human corneal epithelial cells and can result in oxidation. “The oxidative damage caused by blue light was shown to be reduced by effective antioxidant extract associated-free radical elimination, thus improving the clinical symptoms of the eye surface in a dry eye mouse model[5]–[6] and further confirmed that blue light is associated with the formation of dry eye.” Blue light irradiation can impede on corneal stromal cell activity, which gets worse the brighter the light is and the longer one looks at it. 

Both of these articles also mention how blue light has direct effects on the circadian rhythm of sleep. Most people’s circadian rhythm is just over 24 hours, and because the sun is the biggest distributor of blue light, we associate this light with being awake. Looking at screens can stimulate this association and throw off the circadian rhythm of sleep. For example, if someone is looking at a screen even within two or three hours of going to bed, their body will react to the blue light and think it is daytime, causing the person to no longer be sleepy, thus resulting in getting less sleep in general, or sleeping in and causing a decreased exposure to the sunlight throughout the day.