Healthy Habits: Digital Eye Strain and Blue Light

With a majority of public schools closing for at least a month (with some for the remainder of the school year), students will be resorting to online courses during this timeframe as well as playing on their digital devices even more so to pass the time. As we spend hours looking at screens, the eye muscles that focus on near objects get tired. High-energy blue light also reduces contrast, therefore, causing our eyes to constantly adjust focus and the eye muscles to get more overworked. This can cause short-term effects of digital eye strain, including headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, eye strain and eye fatigue, and long term effects on overall eye health. Many people are unaware of the solutions available to protect their eyes from blue light and digital eye strain. Viteyes Blue Light Defender is made specifically to protect the eyes against the overuse of digital screens as well as the sun.

I had a chance to interview Alison Gers, VP of Marketing, Vitamin Health, Inc. 

What are some common sources of blue light?

Common sources of blue light include digital screens – such as tablets, computers, e-readers, and smart phones – as well as LED lighting and even the sun.

How can people protect their eyes from digital eye strain?

5 TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR EYES AGAINST BLUE LIGHT

1. Reduce overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare
2. Position yourself at arm’s distance away from the screen for proper viewing distance when at a computer
3. Increase text size on devices to better define content on the screen
4. Follow the 20-20-20 rule when using a digital device, taking a 20-second break from the screen every 20 minutes and looking at something 20 feet away
5. Have a diet rich in eye nutrients such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin. To ensure you are getting clinically proven amounts daily supplement your diet with a daily eye vitamin that contains all three nutrients such as Viteyes Blue Light Defender +. 

What role do specific nutrients play in eye health?

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are the only natural defenses our eyes have to protect your macula from the harmful effects of blue light.

These powerful antioxidants are naturally found in leafy greens, such as spinach and kale. Getting lutein and zeaxanthin from our diet and supplements is crucial to help protect our eyes because the body can’t make them on its own.

Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant clinically proven to promote dynamic focus by helping eye muscles perform better and recover faster from eye strain and fatigue. It also helps keep eyes healthy by increasing blood flow to the eye. Astaxanthin is found in select seafood like shrimp and lobster, however, the best source in food is salmon. Clinical research says that we need at least 4 mg of astaxanthin per day for eye health benefits but it is difficult to get this much astaxanthin from diet alone. For example, just to get 4 mg of astaxanthin per day, one would need to consume 1 serving of Sockeye salmon each day OR 2 servings of Coho salmon each day OR 8 servings of King salmon.

Viteyes Blue Light Defender is formulated with Lutein (20 mg) and Zeaxanthin (4 mg), which are the only natural defenses our eyes have against the harmful effects of blue light. This premium formula also includes bilberry for added eye health benefits and Astaxanthin to help relieve tired and strained eyes.  Viteyes Blue Light Defender is available as a gummy as well in capsule form and can be used by those 12+ to adults.