With so many of us using computers, iPods and mobile phones daily, computer eye strain has become a major job-related complaint. Studies show that eye strain and other bothersome visual symptoms occur in 50 to 90 percent of computer workers.
These problems, ranging from physical fatigue, decreased productivity and increased numbers of work errors, to minor annoyances like eye twitching and red eyes being caused by Blue light.
Blue light, naturally exists in the environment and is emitted by light emitting diode (LED) screens. Many computers and digital devices contain LED screens.
Blue light is also considered to be a risk factor for age related macular degeneration (AMD). UV light, commonly known as a risk factor for skin cancer, is also thought to contribute to eye diseases such as cataracts.
Up until recently, anti-reflective (AR) coatings for eyeglass lenses were primarily designed to reduce reflections and improve cosmetic appearance. Premium AR coatings even combine additional features that resist scratches, smudges, dust and water.
Recent improvements in AR coatings can even have eye health benefits. New AR coating is now designed to filter both ultraviolet (UV) and blue light.
Crizal Prevencia by Essilor (famous maker of Varilux progressive lenses) is a new anti-reflective lens coating designed to help reduce the risk of developing age related eye disease.
This coating is designed to filter both UV and blue light. Prevencia coated lenses are designed to selectively filter blue light (blue-vilolet) and allow beneficial blue turquoise and visible light to pass through.
See Coat Blue by Nikon is another new anti-reflective coating designed to help reduce visual fatigue from computer screens and mobile devices. Nikon markets this coating as cutting blue light by 10%. They also point to the fact that new LED screens emit much more blue light than older cathode ray tube (CRT) screens.