Does the light from the screen cause damage to our eyesight?

It is something we have all heard of. The light from the screen of our computer, tablet or smartphone can be harmful to our sight. In many media it is said that they can end up damaging the eyesight. It is a debate that has been around for a long time. But so far there has been no very clear conclusion in this regard.

Does the light on the screen harm my eyes?

The syndrome caused by the screens appears to be called photoretinitis. It is a type of inflammation of the retina produced by the excessive action of light. An inflammation that occurs for example when looking directly at an eclipse. Although, the supposed negative effects that the light of the screens generate in our eyes have not been demonstrated in numerous studies.

But there are still many doubts about it. Nor do the experts agree. What we have seen is an increase in sales of products such as filters that seek to protect our eyes from this exposure. So we can see that this is a very complex question.

Scientific studies

Over the years, there have been a multitude of studies seeking to obtain results on the effect of screen light on people's eyes. From studies organized by universities (La Complutense has carried out some) to the European Commission. The results obtained are generally very diverse.

In some cases it can be seen that prolonged exposure to light from screens has an effect on our cells. But, this does not serve to be able to conclude that they affect the view of the users. Although, many experts affirm that it is a problem that cannot be measured in the short term. Only in the long term can the possible negative effects of screen light on our eyes be measured and observed. So the debate is still open.

Although, this same year, several media mentioned a series of tests that seemed to finally show that the light from LED screens (smartphones, tablets, consoles, computers…) affects users' sight. LED devices emit light with a large proportion of short wavelength. Visible radiation that is very energetic and can cause damage to the eyes. In the case of children, they were exposed to higher amounts because they tend to be closer to the devices.

This latest study has not yet been published, although several media have already echoed it.

Screens effect

Despite the many studies that have been carried out, it seems that a relationship between the two has not yet been found. Although, many people believe that the light from screens causes damage to sight. It can be tired eyesight or an inflammation of the retina. Although, it seems that it takes time to have more data to really analyze its effect.

Other studies have looked at the relationship between screen exposure and insomnia or heart problems. In both cases it has been mentioned that it can have influence, but again, the consequences of using a computer or tablet in depth have not been analyzed yet. In the case of insomnia, there are already Harvard studies that show a relationship.

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Users who are exposed to a screen for a longer time have more trouble falling asleep and feel less tired at night. As a consequence, his morning activity was much less due to the fatigue suffered.

Therefore, at the moment we cannot conclude that the light from the screen has been shown to harm our eyesight. It doesn't help to be exposed too long if we want to rest at night. But, to check if there is damage to the eyes we will have to wait. There may be users who feel it hurts them. It is perfectly possible, each case must be analyzed individually, but in a general way. It seems that it is still too early to say that the light on the screen does or does not harm our eyes. What do you think about it?