By spending more than 8 hours a day in front of our screens, we are compromising our pro gamer laser vision. The blue light emitted by our smartphones, computers, tablets, and televisions damages our pupils.
A serious question therefore arises for all gaming enthusiasts: can we lose our sight by spending very long hours on our video games and screens?
We attempt to answer this question through the various research and reading we have done for you.
Effects of prolonged exposure to blue light
Although scientific research is still in its infancy, we already know some of the harmful effects of blue light on our pupils.
Sleep disturbance
You often think that the adrenaline accumulated during a Call of Duty match is what keeps you from sleeping at night. There is undoubtedly some truth to that. However, the real disturber of your sleep cycle is blue light.
Drawing on an article from Harvard University, we discover that blue light inhibits the production of melatonin, the hormone used in synchronizing our circadian (wake/sleep) cycle. It regulates our biological rhythm. As a result, you may feel exhausted, but you won't be able to fall asleep, because your brain hasn't received its sleep potion.
Consequently, your brain and body will be disrupted and won't rest properly, and you will feel the effects the next day: fatigue, cramps, concentration problems – just to name a few minor repercussions.
Computer Vision Syndrome
This is undoubtedly one of the most common syndromes among digital natives. Computer Vision Syndrome (or CVS) is a set of problems linked to prolonged computer use – and in a certain way, exposure to blue light is associated with it.
Basically, these are problems like headaches, blurred vision, eye fatigue, and dry eyes.
You have probably experienced this phenomenon before. If it has never happened to you, then you are not far from being a superhero.
Development of eye diseases
Blue light also attacks in the shadows – like in Ghost of Tsushima – our own defenseless pupils. Indeed, according to a medical study conducted by American researchers, this harmful brightness triggers a process in our ocular system that potentially transforms a light-sensitive molecule essential for retinal function into a toxic element.
This process is thought to lead to the development of the well-known retinal disease called AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration). This toxicity would affect the macula (the central area of the retina), gradually leading to loss of vision.
How is blue light associated with blindness?
According to scientific research, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of permanent blindness in people over 60.
When changes occur in this part of the eye, it can have devastating effects on our vision and potentially lead to blindness.
There are also other eye conditions resulting from prolonged exposure of our eyes to blue light, such as cataracts. Nevertheless, it is primarily AMD that is pointed out by specialists.
The correlation between AMD and blindness
On the National Eye Institute's website, an excellent article explains in detail how macular degeneration occurs and progresses over time.
In the past, AMD was only considered a simple process of eye aging.
However, the article from this medical institute specifies that this pathology also and especially depends on other factors:
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Genetics: Caucasians with light-colored eyes are said to be the most exposed to this disease, as are people who have a family member who has already been affected by this degeneration.
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Smoking: tobacco use is thought to help accelerate the aging of the cornea.
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Diet: an unbalanced diet, high in sugar, acts directly on eye health. It is recommended to eat green vegetables and fruit.
To learn more, we have posted a very comprehensive article on our blog: discover it here.
- Sun exposure: it is a scientific fact that direct sunlight can irreversibly damage the cornea of our eye.
Other interesting information is provided on this site. For example, we learn that there are two types of macular degeneration:
- The so-called "dry" form: resulting from deposits that form in the retinal tissue.
- The so-called "wet" form: manifesting as a decrease in blood vessels in the eye, which can lead to significant vision loss.
So, you might ask us: how do our screens and blue light fit into all of this?
This is the big question that scientists and eye specialists are asking. Indeed, as stated above, the sun is one of the factors that accelerate AMD. It should be noted that our massive star is the largest source of blue light. However, we are used to protecting ourselves from these rays with protective eyewear...
But what do we do about the blue light emitted by the devices we use?
Nowadays, there is still little clinical data confirming that low-intensity artificial blue light (from screens) presents dangers in the long term. For the moment, scientific tests have only been performed in laboratories, but there are strong reasons to believe that, over prolonged periods, the state of our eyes can deteriorate when faced with prolonged exposure to screens.
Faced with so many unknowns, it is better to equip yourself with some armor and shields to defend yourself as best you can against this enemy. You’re not the type to head into battle on the plains of Mordor stark naked, are you? No, well let's say it's the same when it comes to protecting the general condition of your eyes.
How to prevent potential risks and dangers?
Without having categorical, scientific answers regarding the long-term dangers of the blue light from our screens, prevention is better than cure (or suffering).
For once, we offer you some recommendations to follow to push back vision problems as much as possible.
Protective glasses or filters
Even if doubts remain about the damage caused by blue light, it is advisable to protect your eyes using blue light blocking glasses.
There is also the option of protective filters for screens. If you want to know more about this, we recommend two of our articles:
Good (nutritional) health
Good health will always be a quest to pursue to ensure your physical state is performing at its maximum capacity. We are like the characters we embody; we have our own health bars, which need to be kept full to perform at our best.
If you are looking for tips for a more balanced diet, a healthier lifestyle, or other tips and cheat codes for your vision, we have a bunch of articles dedicated to these subjects on our blog, like the one on dietary supplements.
To discover here.
Reduce blue light from our devices
Most of the devices we use (smartphones, computers) are equipped with options allowing you to reduce the brightness of their screens. Don't hesitate to configure them according to your preferences or download an application to automate this practice. It can really help you, especially since we don't necessarily think about it all the time when we're focused in the middle of a game of Watch Dogs.
Consult an eye specialist once a year
As a fierce player, you sometimes put your eyes to the test. A quick visit to the ophthalmologist will never be a waste of time. They will be able to see year after year if your vision has any problems or how it is evolving.
So… does love (for video games) make you blind?
There is still too little scientific documentation to confirm that the blue light from our devices seriously damages our eyes in the long term, to the point of making us blind.
Although some studies seem to confirm this hypothesis, the best we can do right now is to protect ourselves from the risks by equipping ourselves with protective glasses, consulting a specialist regularly, and maintaining good physical and nutritional health.
It is undoubtedly the best way, on all levels, to avoid damaging your eyes, especially since they are so important to you.
