With the advent of the global pandemic, some traditional activities have turned to remote operations. Consequently, people have started using digital devices significantly more as they spend more time remotely. The time spent staring at the screens exposes people to the blue light emanating from these devices.
Researchers are evaluating the long- and short-term problems that may result from extreme exposure to this harmful wavelength light. Here are six tips for digital nomads to protect your eyesight.i
Wear light-blocking glasses
The FL-41 glasses are specialty eyewear recommended for people with migraine and light sensitivity. It can give great relief to people suffering from such photophobic conditions. The FL-41 started as a case study on how these glasses can alleviate migraines. Today, the advancements in photophobia have brought the availability of FL 41 light blocking glasses to patients globally.
The process works this way. The Fl-41 tinted glasses block the blue light. Research says that those wavelengths likely aggravate or trigger light sensitivity. It can hurt the eyes of vulnerable patients with conditions like vertigo, migraine, anxiety, nausea, and more. Studies have proven that these FL-41 tinted glasses can reduce migraine and relieve light sensitivity by filtering the blue light.
Place screens at a distance
Position your screen 30 inches away from your eyes to view it while looking slightly downward. This position is the most comfortable as it can separate and reduce excessive exposure to blue light. Keeping this position is especially important for digital nomads, as they constantly use digital devices for their work, thus potentially being vulnerable to blue light.
For digital nomads who are consistently involved in computer-based tasks, it is helpful to place your reference documents on a holder above the keyboard and below the monitor so that you don’t have to reposition your head to read the papers.
Leverage blocking technology
Many smartphones have a night mode feature. Take advantage of this feature on your smartphone and switch to night mode, which adjusts the setting to filter out the harmful blue light. Also, some manufacturers have embedded specialized protectors that can filter and block blue light. This screen technology helps color clarity and reduces blue light exposure.
Some computer brands have partnered with optic companies and have started an eye care program. The subscribers of this program can get a discount when they buy laptops with light filtering features and get a further price reduction to purchase filters for their other digital devices. Another good option is to use glasses with an anti-reflective premium coating, which helps prevent harmful glare and the risk of eye strain.
Use rest tactics
Give your eyes some rest time to rest during the day because you must break up prolonged stretches of digital screen time. The rule of thumb is to look at something 20 seconds about 20 feet away from you after working for 20 minutes on your computer.
Another way is to change to a task that does not require you to have your eyes focused on something close, like talking on the phone, networking with coworkers, or simply taking a walk. Besides, getting away from computers to the outdoors may protect from the risk of nearsightedness, which is increasingly common among digital nomads.
Get a regular eye exam
Experts say that digital nomads who use computers a lot should get a comprehensive eye test done at least once a year. Remember that if you experience persistent symptoms of eye strain, you may require special lenses prescribed by a medical doctor for digital device viewing. Plus, regular eye exams may reveal other medical conditions not usually related to the eyes, which include diabetes.
It is vital to remember that the routine eye check-up that you do to rectify your vision is not the same as a comprehensive eye test. A vision test is a screening that usually focuses on testing acuity levels. The eye examiners can easily miss common optic conditions such as focusing problems, eye alignment, and farsightedness.
Intraocular lens
Intraocular lenses, also popularly known as IOLs, are tiny and artificial lenses implanted in the eyes to treat myopia and cataracts. The lens of our eyes, i.e., our natural eyes, protects us against various harmful light wavelengths, such as blue light, to a certain degree. However, over time it loses its capability to protect our eyes from harmful rays.
There is some buzz around the medical circles that certain IOLs, if correctly prescribed and used by patients, can filter out these light wavelengths. Nevertheless, the verdict on this is not conclusive. More research in this field would decide whether such claims carry any weight before intraocular lenses become ubiquitous. It has worked for some people, whereas others have had mixed results.