When visiting an optometrist, if vision deterioration is detected and glasses are necessary, patients are often recommended to purchase blue-filtered lenses, claiming that they protect the eyes from the harmful effects of screens and are more beneficial than regular lenses. However, questions arise about the actual necessity of such lenses, whether they prevent eye strain, irritation, and dryness caused by screens, and how dangerous the blue light they supposedly protect against truly is.
Dr. Ikeda Lal, an assistant consultant at the ophthalmology department of Sar Gangaram Hospital, commented on this topic for Aajtak.in. She noted that despite the active promotion of blue filters, there is a lack of scientific evidence confirming their exceptional benefit for the eyes. According to Dr. Lal, medical science lacks convincing studies proving that wearing such lenses significantly reduces dryness, irritation, screen-related problems, or eye pain.
People who work long hours with mobile phones or computers often believe that the main cause of eye fatigue is the blue light emitted by screens. Dr. Lal refutes this, stating that there is no evidence that blue light from screens damages the retina. Furthermore, the blue light present in sunlight is several times more intense than that emitted by screens.
So why do eyes get tired when looking at a screen? Dr. Lal explains that prolonged viewing of a mobile phone or computer screen leads to a reduced blinking rate. This can cause rapid evaporation of moisture from the eye surface, leading to a feeling of dryness, irritation, or fatigue. Additionally, constantly focusing on the screen at the same distance creates tension for the eyes. People often take fewer breaks while viewing, which increases pressure on the eyes and causes pain.
If a doctor has prescribed diopters, it is much more important to use glasses with the correct prescription. Blue filters cannot be considered a treatment for any eye problems or diseases. It also cannot be claimed that their use guarantees the absence of discomfort; the key remains regular eye rest while using screens.
If your job involves a computer or you spend many hours on your mobile phone, it is more important to focus on changing screen usage habits rather than relying solely on lenses. To do this, it is recommended to follow the 20-20-20 rule.
Applying the 20-20-20 Rule
To reduce eye fatigue, the 20-20-20 rule can be applied. According to this rule, every 20 minutes, one should look away from the screen and focus on any distant object for about 20 seconds, located at a distance of approximately 20 feet. This helps relieve the constant eye strain caused by fixing the gaze at one distance. It is also important to take breaks between long screen viewing sessions and not forget to blink while using gadgets.