Are blue light eyeglasses effective? Doctors explain

As students become more exposed to screens amid online learning, some parents have come to buy blue light eyeglasses for their children.

In Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras” Tuesday, parents shared that it’s a way to protect their kids from the blue light emitting from screens, be it from television or computer.

However, according to ophthalmologist and retina specialist Dr. Gregory Germar, although there is no harm wearing these glasses, there is also no study proving that blue light from screens can harm the eyes.

“Matatakot ka sa blue light coming from the sun. From the screen, ’yung amount ng blue light na lumalabas is very very small compared to that,” the doctor said. “Hindi dapat ikatakot.”

What should be a concern, said Germar, was the problem of digital eye strain.

“Kung nakababad sila buong araw, ang tendency ay magco-complain sila na masakit ’yung ulo or hahapdi ’yung mata or hindi na komportable ’yung tingin,” Germar said.

Although the digital eye strain doesn’t cause permanent damage, it does affect the concentration of the person once the symptoms show up.

To avoid this, pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Lexie Aclan advised people to do the 20-20-20 rule.

“You ask them to use the screen for 20 minutes and then after that they look sa malayo, 20 feet away and look at the distant object for 20 seconds,” he said.

It’s also advisable to keep on blinking so the fluid around the cornea won’t dry up.

“Normally kasi isang tao nakaka-kinse sa isang minuto. ’Pag masyadong babad sa telebisyon nababawasan ’yun by half. Doon tayo nagkakaroon ng probema,” Aclan said.

The Department of Education also released a memorandum regarding screen time guidelines for the students.

Kindergarten students are recommended to have a maximum of one hour daily; Grades 1 to 5 maximum of 1.5 hours daily; Grades 6 to 8 maximum of 2 hours daily and Grades 9 to 12 4 hours daily, with 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News