Using your smartphone constantly can be damaging to your eyes, however it is even more damaging at night time. Smartphones let out a sharp blue light which is stark compared to your dark bedroom. Using your smartphone at night can really impact on your eyes. Here are a few reasons you should limit your smartphone use, especially at night.
1. The habit of looking at your phone at night is very significant. Exposure to this blue light can cause damage to the retina. Retina damage that is caused by blue light emitted by smartphones can cause macular degeneration which can lead to consequential sight loss. This kind of damage, however, is seen to be worst when the phone is being held very close to your eyes which is usually not the way smartphones are used.
2. There is a possible connection between cataracts and blue light made from the smartphone. Studies haven’t concluded anything yet, but it’s important to be cautious.
3. Exposing your eyes to the blue light made by smartphones can disturb your sleep. The strong blue light can disrupt your production of melatonin which helps maintain a sleep cycle. Your brain is meant to produce melatonin when you are preparing for sleep and the blue light gets in the way of that. Not having a good enough sleep can have a detrimental effect on your health. This ranges from strained eyesight, to memory issues.
4. Sleep disturbance caused by the blue light have been connected to cancer, specifically breast and prostate. Melatonin also is useful as an antioxidant. More research is required on this claim, but there is a concept that consistent darkness whilst your sleep can protect you against certain types of cancer.
5. The blue light pumped out by the smartphone you’re using may also affect your mental health. Having your body clock being disturbed and your melatonin level surpressed can make you more prone to disorders such as depression.
Blue light isn’t all bad. Sometimes, it can help you.
In order to counter the damage of blue light at night, getting an hour of sunlight in the morning can help melatonin levels get back to normal and maintain a good sleep cycle. Getting sunlight in the morning without wearing sunglasses can expose your eyes to light and consequently helps your melatonin levels by sending signals to your pineal gland.
Your eyes, and the rest of your body, are incredibly important. It’s a really good idea to keep your eyes in check by removing the time spent on your phone at night time. Some smartphones that are coming into the world do not produce such a strong blue light and so these are useful for moments when looking at your phone at night cannot be resisted.
Going for a walk in the morning will not only open your lungs and get your heart pumping, it’ll do wonders for your eyes after a hard sleep if blue light has not been avoided and will get your sleep in check.